Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1882-10-19
THE ISSUE NOW Is ANNEX A.
TON.

eight or ten years the question IT tn
annexation Of the counties north Of tn
Salmon chain Of mountains to Wash
ington, has been the main issue in al
orr elections, while the southern coun
ties have never made it an open issue
But the opponents Of the measur
in the South, have ever managed t,
keep the matter from being discussed
publicly before the people, and havin;
the prcpondcrance Of Influence in tn
nominating conventions, have SO man
sged a. to prevent its general discus
sion at the South during the canvass
made by the Delegates At the Nortl
it has been discussed fully, freely anc
fairly and the result at each and ever,
election has been Overwhelmingly fol
the measure. The presen. year neither
Of the conventions nominating can
didate for Delegate in Congress had
the courage to put any plank in their
platform pro or con in relation to the
measure, and twenty four days after
the Republican nominee was in the
field, the Democratic convention placed
Their nominee in the field, but without
plank in their platform relating to
the question. Blu, the nominee (Ains.
lie) stepping beyond and outside Of the
platform Of the party that gave him
the nomination, in his speech Of accept
Ance, declared that he wes opposed to
allowing the Northern counties to 90
to Washington. From this state of
facts, known in Northern Idaho, the
people Of the North having placed
themselves in position to play lone
hand and to nominate Northern
man pledged to annexation and being
resolved to vote for such man the
issue Of annexation was forced upcn
tho Republican nominee, else he could
expect no votes from the North and 10
asmuch as Ainslie had taken the mega,
tive Of the question, Mr.. Singiser, the
Republican nominee, in order to have
! ghost Of show for an cleo ion must
espouse the cause Of the North agains,
Ainslie's position. In determining to
DO this he had to consider the general
public sentiment in the counties Of the
South in regard to llloxing the North
TO go to Washington, as they have
long desired, lest he might offend and
lose bis supporters in the South. He
declares to us thit h, is satisfied he
will not lose to exceed 200 votes Of
Republicans in the South, while among
: large portion Of the Democrats Of the
South, who IRE strongly opposed to
Ainslis on the other grounds, there is
the strong belief that the North ought
70 BE- allowed to go, and hence wha.
Republican votes he may lose in con
sequence Of espousing tho annexation
measure, will be more than made up
BY Democratic votes from the South
and several letters from prominent
Democrats OF the South, which we have
read, seem to warrant this expectation.
MI. singiser says that personally he
has for long time, ever since he has
considered the real condition and stu.
alton Of the North relative to the South
and to w Washington Territory,
been Of the full opinion that justice to
our people demanded that if we desir
Cd i, the people Of the North should
20 permitted to goto Washington with
out objection. With these views he
presented himself before the Indepen.
dent convention Of the North, and Of
fered himself as the champion Of our
cause, as expressed in his address pub.
lishcd in another column. Here was
presented dilemma for the convention
% consider in all its phases. 1t was
apparent that had he made known. pub.
hcly, ct the North his views, there
never would have been movement for
m Independent convention. But no
such public announcement had been
made to give the people to understand
where he stood, whether as an enemy
Or . friend Of our cause, although
nearly seven weeks had elapsed since
bis nomination. The general faith in
the Republicans of the convention was
That he was sincere in his endorsement
of annexation, because Republicans
would naturally be supposed to accord
= : Republican nominee good faith 10
he professions of friendship, and hence
i devolvcd upon the Democrats Of the
convention to say whether the Demo. |
srats rank and file would accord to him
|he same degree of faith, SO as to vote
- hin, n a ron .l.l,, "a 49,. I1