The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-11
Justice For the Territories.

for legislation of distinctly political
character IS past, there ought to be
reason for hope that congress viii
deign to give some attention to the
question Of securing to the people of
the territories their indisputable right
to sef-govenment. The territorial
condition IS an unnatural and anom-
alous one. The invention of terri
torial governments grew out of the
peculiar conditions established in this
country by the existence of a body of
fertile public land that could be fully
occupied only after an immense in
crease in population. To tide over
the period when this land shall be in
process of settlement, still too sparsely
inhabited TO admit of the satisfactory
introduction of the machine of popu
lar government, a mere tentative and
artificial system of government from
Washington was devised. Not only
was 1t not intended that this system
should be permanent, but it was not
intended by any just man that it
should be continued a moment be-
yond the time when there was reason
able evidence that the people of a
territory were equal IN point of num-
Ders, OF intelligence and of devotion to
tree institutions to take upon them
selves the cares and duties of statehood.
Nor has there ever been any direct
test made 70 prove that this time has
arrived. That is easy enough. of de
termination, without any specific re-
qWrement in the way of population
or wealth, and then there remains but
one duty clear and imperative. Con
gress should bestow upon the people
the privilege of self-rule, a privilege
which 1t has no moral right, and in all
probability no legal right, to withhold.
The lessons Of our history with refer
ence to this territorial question point
all in one direction. Independent of
the dangers of form of government
which is essentially that imposed by
monarchies upon dependent colonies,
independent of the abuses which are
pretty sure to be generated Ivy making
territorial aeyIunae of refuge Tor dcTeat-
ed or disappointed politicians of the
states, the mere existence of unadmit-
ted territory is a constant temptation
to the misuse of political power. 1t
was SO in the days of slavery, when
the first battle ground was over the
question of its extension to the terri
tories of the West and Southwest. It
Is so to-day, when a Poi-.c.l part
seeks to strengthen its power by delib
erately debarring from their rightful
participation in national affairs many
hundreds of thousands of the most
intelligent, energetic and loyal citizens
of the nation. 1t is time for this mon
strous denial of the rights intended to
be secured to all our people to come
to an end. And it must be accepted
as a safe general principal that every
territory should be admitted to the pri-
vileges and responsibilities of state
hood at the earliest possible moment
after it has demonstrated its title to
enjoy the same.
We are able to appreciate the pro-
portions to which this hoary abuse of
keeping the people of the territories
dancing attendance upon political
has grown, when we find it
still a matter of doubt whether the
just claims of Dakota will receive re-
cognition at the hands of the present
or the congress elect.
In point of fact and the fact itself
ought to do something toward compos-
ing the situation politically, it would |
be for the highest welfare of all con-
cerned, if at least four new states
we're to be Immediately incorporated |
in the Union. South Dakota already |
fills the bill North Dakota, Montana
and Washington are all much further
both in population and in all
The material evidences of progress
-han were half a dozen states that
might be mentioned, when their
claims were recognized. 1t would be
1 proper and fitting act to add these
our to the thirty eight states that now
lrrogate 10 themselves a measure of
exclusive power to which they have no
title but that of superior force. And,
the political argument is one
hat ought to have no place in this
discussion whatever, still, since it has
)een proven that the hopes and fears
# Darties are strong enough TO jnfu- |