Helena weekly herald., 1888-12-06

Since Bishop Berkleys day ''the Star of
Empire" has continued to pursue its west.
ward course even more rapidly than it did
to the prophetic eye of the author of that
familiar quotation.
Not staying to note the fulfillments of
that prophecy in the continued growth of
our country in all the main elements of
strength, we call attention now merely to
the fact that since 1880, the date of our
last census, the population of the country
west of the Mississippi has increased nearly
or quite 100000. About one fourth of
this increase has been in Missouri, Ar
kansas and Texas, but full three-fourths
has been in the Northwestern States and
| Territories. A greater than the usual per-
centage of this western emigration has
| been made up of voters. 1t is reckoned
that 100000 among these emigrants are
voters and that 100000 of these voters
have settled in the Territoriesiand thus
their votes have been lost to the North in
the choice of President.
The only wonder is that under such a
drain the North has been able to hold its
own so well in the greal crucial political
conflict just closed. The places of these
voters who have moved west were filled
by the growth of younger generations and
by foreign immigration. 1t is generally
reckoned that the Democrats get the most
OF the newly naturalized votes and this
would leave the inference that most:of the |
young voters are Republican. At the last |
election there were more Englishmen ma
turalized and voted than ever before and |
the majority of them were undoubtedly |
Democratic. Notwithstanding the consid-
cradle antipathy between Englishmen and
Irishmen at home the majority of both in
this country give their support to the
Democratic party, for some unaccountable
reason, evidently misunderstanding sof
the principles and tendencies of both par
ties.
By the way that the residents of the
Territories have voted, it would seem as if
a large majority of those who moved west
of the Mississippi from the older States
were Republicans. To maintain their Re-
publican maiorities in the face Of this
heavy drain upon their resource shows
what successful effort the Republicans of
the Northern States have made, and they
are entitled to the greater praise for the
result
But these 100000 disfranchised voters in
The Western Territories will mostly be re-
stored to the voting strength of the nation
our years hence. They are only a little in
advance of "the Star of Empire" as it rises
higher and still moves steadily westward
It has now been upwards of Twelve years
'ince Colorado, the last State admitted to
he Union, took her place among the sister,
hood of States. In that time nearly
wenty millions have been added to our
and our wealth increased nearly
,ne-third. This exhibit only emphasizes
he injustice done to the Territories. In
he organization of the Northwest Terri
ory it was specifically agreed that when
'ver any portion thereof possessed popu-
alton of $4,000 it would be entitled to ad-
mission as State. Yet Dakota has more
han ten times that population and is still
lenied Statehood. Even Montana has
hree times the number that was once
established as just claim to State privi-
eyes, Have the rights of American citi-
ems grown less in the advance of general
Intelligence?
The stars in their courses declaim against
his rank injustice to the distranchised
american citizens in the Territories. and
more loudly than all the rest, the Star of
umpire.