Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1883-11-15
DIVIDING WASHINGTON.


The article quoted from the Boomer
dng abiding to an artiely of recent date
in the Onion, advocating a division Of
Washington Territory, charges that the
Union desires this 80 as to get the CAPT
tai at Walla Walla, and that the Sound
people desired it SO as to retain a capital
on the Sound. We don't know the mo-
tives that induced the article and We have
never seen any recent demonstration in the
Sound papers that the people of the Sound
wanted division The onion asserts
that it i the Office seekers alone that want
State government and not the people
The record Of the past does not show this
fact, unless that the two-thirds majority
who voted for State constitution in 1878,
were all Office seekers, and it is to be in
ferred that the increase of population of
the Territory since that time has mainly
been induced to immi crate to the Territory
by the movements then made to become a
State. Besides this, at every Delegate Con.
since, the candidates have been squarely
placed upon a platform of early State
government by the representatives of the
people in the conventions, and have gone
before the people upon that platform and
been elected. Where then is the reason
for believing that the people do not want
aState government, and would not rejoice
to have the measure succeed as soon as
possible? Our neighbor Of the Union SO
fur as we could see never has been very
warm advocate of State government
although he has on some occasions urged
it, by an enabling act, and the framing
Of new constitution, by the people. His
principal objection has always appeared
to be to some of the provisions of the
constitution adopted by the people il
1878. This new theory he has put forth
must have been long smothcred from tn,
public and now at the suggestion of som,
party who has game to play, he has dis
closed it, to the establishment of his friends
and Of the people ut large, for surely tn,
people no where in the Territory hav,
agitated it, and furnished basis for tn
opinion he expresses. How many follow
srs he will have remains to be seen. Blu
We opine they will be few and we trus
no more than a corporals guard. 1t Ger
tainly is unfortunate, for the delegate il
Congress, to have this expressed sent
ment adverse to State, follow him t
Congress, while he is there pledged to us
his utmost endeavor to gain admission {
Washington as State at the earliest po
sible period, aud we cannot possibly col
template for moment that the Union
sentiments recently expressed can or wi
be echoed by any considerable numbe
Of people in any part of the Territory
They may pass the matter in silence, .
the visionary suggestions of one who ha
lost his rudder of hope, or they ma
promptly oppose the measure. We i
North Idaho certainly object to the divi
ion, although it might make cur annex,
tion more sure and certain But it woul
surely be great detriment to us to hay
to wait an indefinite period of time pc
haps Of ten or twenty years before "
could enjoy the full privileges of Amer
can citizens. If put to the test of vot
we might rather take our chances ft
admission by remaining in Idaho, instea
Of going to Washington if divided as pr,
posed by the Union. May the Union
suggestions fall still born and never |
dressed.