The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-05-20
ADMISSION OF TERRITORIES.

The bill now before the House o.
Repre- sentatives in regard to the ad'
mission of Territories into the Union
which was opposed so strongly on
the floor the other day, strikes us as
being not unfair, Notwithstanding
the fact that the Congressman who
had been citizens of a Territory were
most vigorous in their opposition to
it. The bill provides that no Ter
ritory shall be admitted until it
contains a population equal to that
in State to entitle 1t to
q Representative in Congress.
It is claimed that to impose
the population condition would be
unfair to the lesser number of pep
pie who live in a Territory, and who,
as citizens of the United States, are
entitled to a voice in the govern
ment Of the republic, and in making
the laws under which they must
live. In theory laws and govern
mental systems apply equally to all
individuals; in practice they do not
apply with the SANS degree Of fair
ness or justice to any two persons,
owing to the conditions in each case
being different from thofe in every
other. Laws and society rules are
intended to do the greatest good, or
bear the lightest upon the greater
number, and the lesser number
must subscribe to this rule, though
their moral rights as individuals
and citizens are iniringed. The
theory of our Territorial system is
that the dependencies are to be
taken care Of as wards Of the nation
until they are physically able to care
for themselves; it is both human e
and economic, for it implies support
to the weak until the latter should
be developed into pillar of strength
for its benefactor; just as the boy is
maintained by the father, and
the son eventually becomes the
support. Carried into practice the
TERRITORIAL SYSTEM ! becomes cruel
and oppressive,not so much because
the "colonies" are kept out of the
Union and their people ESQ long de-
prived of their inherent rights as
citizens, but for the reason that the
mannef Of maintaining them in
their infancy is made cruel instead
of pleasant and encouraging.
To admit a Territory into the Union
IS 2 State with two Senators and
one Representative, while the dspeu-
dency contains but fraction of the
population necessary to Represen-
tative in q State, would be clearly
comforting a political advantage
upon the people Of the
Territory over those of the
State. This the Territories dc
not ask; that is to say, those Of
their people who are reasonable dc
not ask any such advantage, and we
do not think il should be conferred,
though 1t has been in times past;
with bad results, however. But the
residents Of a Territory have the
right to ask that when their num-
Der is equal to that of State OF
district having a Representative,
and exercising a voice in Govern
meRt affairs. the Territory be adj
mitted to the Union; and to keep
it out under such circumstances is
unrepublican and wrong to citir
zens, in that it depriVes them Of
rights and privileges which must
be conceded to be theirs by every
one who understands the theory OF
the republic. If the bill were
amended by adding the provision
that when Territory had the pop
ulation necessary in a State for q
Representative in Congress, and II
provided republican form Of gov
ernment,it would be admitted to the
Union on an equal footing with
the other States, the measure
would be entirely satisfactory
to the Territories, and could no
be opposed on logical grounds by the
States themselves. Such a Law
would simply be measure apply
ing equally upon all concerned, il
- far as it is possible to make public