Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-10-09
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
EAGLE, Shoshone Co., Idaho,
Sent. 0f, 1894

Sept. &c, 1884. ! !
Ed. TELLER;-The denomination Of
Hon. T. +. Singiser for Delegate to Con-
sress BY the Republican party of Idaho
Territory is signal victory for the an
nexation cause. 1t is the first fruits of
the coming harvest which will speedily
crown with success the efforts Of years
Of patient labor and sacrifice on the part
of the people Of Northern Idaho in the
cause. Annexation in one
shape or another has always formed IN
important chapter in the political history
OF Idaho Territory and it is now, by the
deliberate action Of the Republican party
OF the Territory in cony cntion assembled,
made distinct issue through an indorse.
mcnt Of our cause in its declaration of
principles.
The repeated votes Of the northern
counties on the annexation issue shows
the existence of a deep public sentiment
in respect thereto. 1t may be that the
people, or rather the politicians of South
ern Idaho have, in the past failed to
accurately weigh and measure the senti-
ment Of our people on this subject, but
we have at length, and for the first time,
forced one Of the great political parties to
concede to US respectful recognition in
its platform. Heretofore the champions
OF the annexation movement have been
regarded as cranks pursuing a wild
chimcra. The plank in the platform Of
the Republican party of the Territory
recognizes it as living issue and presents
it to the voters of the Territory for form
al ratification at the polls. The pledges
made to us by the nominee two years ago
are now ratified by the party convention
in its most public and binding form, and
every since annexationists will regard this
as triumph of the cause.
The movement for annexation has been
backed by an enthusiasm and intelligence
such as are rarely witnessed in the field
of politics. In an agitation of this char.
acter there is always danger of exciting
sectional hatred, or Of afording an easy
means by which ambitious and self-seek.
ing schemers can raise themselves into
temporary Importance; but in the progress
OF the annexation movement these dang
ers have been entirely eliminated by the
good sense of the people, and there have
been such repeated exhibitions of sacri-
flee Of party and unanimous devotion to
the cause on the part of our people as
stamps upon our convictions the seal OF
absolute sincerity aud from which we
may deduct the great moral lesson that
annexation, like many other forms of DO
litical agitation, can exist and be formid
able only by virtue of what is Just and
reasonable in its demands. And this is
exactly what is conceded US by the Re-
publican platform.
In 1880, dissatisfied with the nomina-
tions Of both political parties, the annex
alton movement nominated and supported
Mason Braymond for Delegate to Con-
gress. In 1882, the nominee of the Re-
publican party received our unanimous
vote on pledges voluntarily made, faith
fully kept and now ratified by his party
in its platform and by his denomination.
1t has been urged in opposition to Mr..
Singiser that he did not make annexation
an issue in the southern counties of the
Territory, but those who are acquainted
with the incidents Of the last campaign
will distinctly remember that he was
subjected to the most villianous assaults
and was accused of the most corrupt mo-
tives by his opponents for taking up the
cudgels in behalf of annexation. Mr.
Ainslie, the Democratic nominee, made
his campaign in the southern counties on
distinctively anti-annexation basis and
was overwhelmingly defeated. The rec
ord thus made has wonderfully strength,
ened our prospects Of ultimate success,
and to such an extent that the vicissitudes
of politics have practically made us mas
ters of the situation. We hold the des-
tiny of annexation in our own hands il
We will adapt our play to the exigencics
Of the situation.
1t is necessary to remember: First,
That there can be no annexation without
Statehood; End, That there can be nc
Statehood without Republican Congress
and 3rd, That our chances for admission
with Washington will be strengthened by
the presence of Republican Delegate
from Idaho, who is individually and BY
his party pledged to facilitate the meas
ure. In reviewing the field of nationa
pOlitics the disinterested observer cannot