Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-08-21

1--WE re0f1lrtn the poilcy vi aPPio'
PLATING the public lands Of the Unit
ed States for homesteads for Ameri-
can citizens and settlers, not aliens,
which the Republican party establish
ed in 1862 against the persistent OPP
position of Democrats in Congress,
and which has brought our great
Western domain into such magnifi-
cent development.
The restoration of unearned rail
road land grants to the public do
main for the use of actual settlers,
which was begun under the admins
trution of President Arthur, should
be continued. We deny that the
Democratic party has ever restored
one acre to the people, but declare
that by the joint action of Republi-
cans and Democrats about fifty mil
lions of unearned lands, originally
granted for the construction of rail
roads, have been restored to the pub
lie domain, in pursuance Of the con-
ditions inserted by the Republican
party in the original grants.
We charge the Democratic Admin
istration with failure to execute the
laws securing to settlers their titles
to homesteads, and with using APP
propriations made. for that purpose
! to harass innocenteet,lrrs with spies
and prosecutions under the false
pretense of exposing frauds and vin-
dicating the law.
Tn. government by Congress of the
Territories is based upon necessity
only, to the end that they may be-
come States in the Union; therefore,
whenever the conditions Of popula-
ton, material resources, public intel
iiyence and morality are such as to
insure stable local government there
in, the people of such Territories
should he permitted, as a right in
herent in them, to form for themselves
constitutions and State governments
and be- admitted into the Union.
Pending the preparation for State
hood, all officers thereof should be
selected from the bona fde residents
and citizens of the Territory wherein
they are to serve. South Dakota
should of right he Immediately ad-
mitted as State III the Union, under
the Constitution framed and adopted
by her people, and we heartily en-
dorse the action Of the Republican
Senate in twice passing bills for he'
admission. The refusal of the Dem
ocra,ic House OF Representatives, fol
partisan purposes, to consider these
bills, is IL wiiltul violation CT the
sacred American principle of loca
self government, and merits the con
demnasion of all just men. The
pending bills in the Senate for acts t.
enable the people Of Washington
North Dakota and Montana Terri
tories to form CONSTRUCTIONS and es
tablisn State governments should b'
passed without unnecessary delay
The Republican party pledges its"l
to do all in its power to facilitate tn
admission Of the Territories Of New
Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho and Arizo
ma to the enjoyment of self.govern
ment as States; such of them as ar
3 now qualified as soon as possible, ant
the others as soon as they may becom
so. The political power of the Nor
/, mon Church in the Territories as ex
, ercised in the past, is a menace to fire.
institutions and dangerous to be lon
5 suffered; therefore we pledge tn
+, Republican party to appropriate legls
t la:ion asserting the sovereignty c
E the nation in all Territories where tn
t same is questioned, and in furtheranc
! of that end, to place upon the statut
hooks, legislation stringent enough
e divorce the political from the eccle'
\ iastical power. and thus stamp out tn
e attendant w,ckeaness of rolyeamy.
! The Republican party is in favor {
the use Of both gold and silver 4
=. money. aud condemns the policy {
!, the Democratic administration in i,
y efforts to demonetize silver.
We demand reduction Of le.te
= postage to one cent.
:. in a republic like ours, where tn
J, citizens Is the sovereign and the OIL
\ cial the servant, where no power
= exercised except by the will of I'll
. people, it is important that the sove
eighty, the people, should possess ii
=, telligsuce. The free school is til
;, promoter Of that intelligence which
;. to preserve us n free nation; ther'
:. fore, the Staoe or nation, or both con
!. bined, should support free ins'it,
:. tons of learning, sufficient to affor
. to every child growing up in the Ian
! tie opportunity OF a good commo
;. school education.
+, We earnestly recommend tn,
4 prompt action be taken by Congres
in the enactment of such lepisla,lo
MS will best secure the rchabiitatlo
i, of our American merchant marin
:. and we protest against the passae
H.. bv Congress Of the free ship bill 4
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