Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-07-30

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priating 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 magniG-
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
tration nj President Arthur, should
he 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 Admi:-
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 innocent settlers with spies
and prosecutions under the false
pretense Of exposing frauds and vim
dlcating the law.
The 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 popu!a-
ton, material resources, public intel
Hgence and morality are such as to
insure stable local government there
in, the people of such Territories
should be permitted, as 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 be Immediately ad.
United as State in 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.
ocratc House Of Representatives, fol
partisan purposes, to consider these
bills, is a wiillul violation Of The
sacred American principle of loca
self. government, and merits the con
} demnation of all just men. Thu
pending bills in the Senate for acts t
enable the people of Washington
North Dakota and Montana Terri
tories to form Constitutions and es
tablisn State governments should b
. passed without unnecessary delay
3, The Republican party pledges itsel
$ to do all in its power to facilitate tn
I admission of the Territories of Ne'
S Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho and Arze
q ma to the enjoyment of self-goverr
o ment as States; such Of them as ar
e now qualified as soon as possible, an
s the others as soon as they may becom
= so. The political power Of the Mo
), mon Church in the Territories as e'
e ercised in the past, is menace to fire
institutions and dangerous to be Ion
S suffered; therefore we pledge tt
;, Republican party to appropriate legl
II la;ion asserting the sovereignty (
G the nation in all Territories where tt
# same is questioned, and in furtherant
n of that end, to place upon the statu
books, Legislation stringent enough
e divorce the political from the eccle
n iastical power, and thus stamp out Il
'e attendant w,ckedness of polygamy.
a The Republican party is in favor
% the use of both gold and silver
J. money, and condemns the policy
't the Democratic administration in
al efforts to demonctize silver.
~ We demand a reduction of lett
~ postage to one cent.
- In a republic like ours, where t
= citizens is the sovereign and the OF
n cial the servant, where no power
49, exercised except by the will of t
20 people, it is important that the SOW
- eighty, the people, should possess
), telligence. The free school is t
!" promoter of that intelligence which
:" to preserve US u free nation; the'
-. fore, the State or nation, or both col
a. bined, should support free insti'
- tons of learning, sufficient to affo
W to every child growing up in the la
81 the opportunity of a good comm
-. school education.
At We earnestly recommend tt
nd prompt action be taken by Congr'
re in the enactment of such legislatl
n. as will best secure the rehabilitatl
IN of our American merchant mari
,r and we protest against the passa
N. by Congress of the free ship bill
id calculated to work inj lstice to lat