Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-12-23
State OF wAsHrNaroNs AID
MISSION.

committee on territories 10 the House by
4 majority have agreed to make favora
bic report on Dolph's bill for the adm's-
sion Of Washington with an amendment
to also include Montana, and that the
constitutions of the two states shall nrs'
be submitted to congress for their ap'
prevail before they shall be admitted
Il may be that the amendments suggest
ed. if made in the House, may not De
acceptable to the Senate, and this may be
4 reason why the amendments are sug
eestcd, 80 as to throw the responsibility
Of the final defeat Of the bill upon a
republican Senate, but we trust that the
republican Senate will not be opposed to
the bill as amended. 1t is generally con
ceded that the territories OF Washington,
Montana and Dakota are entitled t"
admission, having the requisite popula
ton and resources, and the objections
urged seems to arise from an uncertainty
respecting the political complexion which
each may have on their admission.
This seems to be wide departure from
the constitutional provision respecting
tho admission Of new states. That pro-
vision refers principally to their ability
to maintain state government and the
disposition Of the people to have gov
eminent that is republican in form, aud
70 conform to the principles Of the con
elDutiou Of the union and tho laws en-
iaetad BY congress from time to time.
These are all the essentials requisite
The question then was not whether the
constitution should be made by wings,
republicans or democrats, or whether the
majority Of the people to live under it
should belong to either or any OF those
parties - long as they were loyal to the
general government as administered un
der the constitution Of the United States.
The interpolation Of other tests Of quail
hcations requisites, are innovations and
not authorized, and we contend that
senator's or members Of Gel, ress, who
are governed simply by the prospect Of
whether the new state on coming into the
Union shall be either democratic or repub
licau 10 party row, are departing from
the test required 10 the constitution. aud
denying to the people to the proposed
new state their constitutional rights aud
sre not worthy OF the place they fill as
eithr senators or representatives in con-
press. II Z different test is to be uni
versal, then when the party republican,
are 10 power. or on the other hand whe'
party democratic are in power, in the on
case none but republicans have any RICH
which are to be respected while coloniz
ing 1 new territory; in the other none bu
democrats have any rights in colonizin'
I new territory. Senators and represen
tatives may deem themselves at liberty +
treat the people Of the territories as seri
having no rights but such as congress
may soc Ct to dole out to them accordin
t. their political partisan whims, even
they do have abundant population an
resources 70 maintain state government
with ease. We interpret the right
Of the pspls u the territories under II
constitution. Members OF congress VIII
oppose admission Of new territories whe
they seek admission, having the reln
site qualifications under the constituting
should be held smenable to the VIM
people Of the United States, and BE- mad
70 cease their opposition, or be compelle
to step down and out. As represent
lives Of other states they have no RICH
. infringe upos the constitutional RICH
Of the people Of the territories, and
senator or representative in congress ca
justly plead the will or wish Of b
constituency as justification for b
opposition. We men in the territori
can see the injustice OF such course
we'll - men who live in the states
Many Of Us who have come to the teri
tories came imbued with knowledge
the main principles Of the constitute
whose broad shield covers the territori
y well as the states, and We have lost mol
Of our perception Of the injustice Whit
i oftsn attempted to be practised upo
and We have lost none of the courage
express COR convictions Of the departu
Of congressman from the principles al
practises which should govern in relati
I, the people Of tie territories. WI
will be the result Of the action of I
committee in the House, but few, if an
can predict. /.
The Oregonian places it 10 this WI
~The resAuioo Of the House col
mittes 10 Yegsfd to the admission
WnahinQt0n m a state amounts to a pl