Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-03-16
DON'T GIVE UP THE SHIP.

rather weakens on the prospect of ad-
mission of Washington as State,
claiming that private dispatches and
correspondence suggest as much. The
letter from Brents of Goth Feb. and
the dispatch from him of the 9th inst
which we published last week, taken
together, do not justify the conclusion
that Brcnts himself expects an ulti-
mate defea. of his bill already before
Congress, though it intimates a delay
possibly, till the next session OF Con-
gress. HIS desire that we Of North
Idaho bring to bear influences against
Ainslies amendment in the House and
that the bill would be reported by the
committee, all go to show that he still
has hopes of admission before the ex-
piration Of the present Congress. From
all that now appears, the probability
is good that q large population will be
added to the present population of
Washington and North Idaho, before
the meeting of Congress in December
next to swell the aggregate to dispel
the obiecti n that we have not sufficient
population to be admitted. The rule
that is claimed to obtain at present, to
wit: that Territory must have the full
quota Of population according to the
superintendent for Representative in
the House, in order to entitle it to ad
mission, has never obtained as rule,
and to claim this is not claim under
the constitution as condition prece-
dent to admission, and more than this,
it is not just to the people of the Ter
ritories seeking admission. The true
rule is that the Territory can support
. State government, and will adopt
constitution that is republican in form.
The conditions under this rule have
already been made manifest in the
former action Of the people, and the
prospect is almost certain that the peo-
pie, if permitted, will as fully comply
with those conditions in adopting an
other constitution. But beyond these
essential conditions, Washington with
North Idaho possesses elements Of
great natural wealth far beyond those
Of more than two thirds of the States
when each was admitted into the Union,
and the argument that Washington
with North Idaho does not possess the
prerequisites to admission is all fallacy
and must be made apparent to every
member Of Congress, whether he DO
opposed to our admission or not; under
these circumstances, for the Onion or
any other journal OF Washington or
North Idaho to exhibit the least signs
Of weakness, harms tho cause just SO
far as it has Influence, as Brents says
in his letter We published last week,
the Vancouver Independent had, done
tho cause no little harm, when it ad
vised that Brents drop North Idsht
and press the admission Of the State
without those counties. Our theory is
don't give up the ship, as long as sh'
has the essential elements to foat hel
into safe harbor. That tho people
Of Washington want State Govern
ment as soon as Congress will ADM
her has been abundantly demonstrates
BY their vote, and that they and tn
people of North Idaho want thes
northern counties included in the boun
diaries has been equally and fully dem
oastratsd by their votes. Why the'
i any portion Of the press OF Wash
ington luke warm and afraid to speal
boldly and fearlessly upon the ques
ten. It must bs that they are no
the true representatives Of the peopl
whose cause they claim to serve, unles
they are the representatives of tn
small minority who oppose State Gov
ernment for Washington. TO us
seems to he the duty of every newsp'
per in Washington and North 1dah'
70 urge frequently and with vim th
admission under Brents' bill, from mo-
till the question has been fully detern
ined by either the passage or the defes
Of the bill. The opinion of the pre-,
upon the question is construed 9
Washington as indicative that the pet
pie are wholly Indifferent upon til
question, which is not the fact with III
great majority. The true interests {
our people independent Of all politics
u xouG1davafionu .lon,orl ,bof Tia Sta,