New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-15
NFU,lfEYYCO


The Bourbons of the House Of representa-
tives can learn-something The Democratic
caucus, by vote which will probably control
The bulk of the majority has decided to favor
the admission into the Union of Dakota, either
as one or two States as the people shall decide,
and the admission also Of Washington, Mon
tana and New-Mexico. ell to be admitted by
one bill. This is long retreat from the pres
ent form Of Mr.. Sprnger's bill, which did not
divide Dakota That the Territory will now
be divided as two States in accordance with
the plainly expressed wish Of the people Of
Dakota, they owe to the firm stand the Repub-
Iicans have always taken in their behalf. Tho
Democrats see that the admission of tho two
Dakotas. Washington and Montana would be
one Of the first measures of the List Congress.
and yield to get what credit they can from
seeming TO help in an act of justice which they
have fought off for years.
This decision may be said to leave only one
question at issue-whether New-NleMco shall
be carried into the Union on the backs of the
Northwestern Territories. If population were
tho only test, New Mexico would plainly be
entitled to admission. 1t is now estimated
that it has 175, 900 people, but these figures
do not mean what they would mean in the
case of Northwestern Territory. There
population of this size means large and stead
lily increasing immigration from the older por-
tons Of the country, composed mainly OF hardy
and enterDrising men, the rapid development
Of natural resources, the building of railroads
the establishment Of churches, schools, col
leges and newspaperS-the steady growth, in
Il. Il. ,~.;. nf into Ii
gent American Commonwealth. But New
Mexico is an old country. 1t has been in
habited for hundreds of years and in some
respects has not reached higher degree OF
civilization than it had a century or more ago.
The figures show only a sluggish growth. 1t
has been Territory forty years. In 1850 the
population was 81 ,547 thirty years later, In
1880, it had grown to only ii 8, 500. Even al
lowing for probably 10000 lost through the
setting off Of Arizona and part Of Colorado
the population but little more than dou-
bled during this long period. OF these
oil ,O46 were born in the Territory, and most
Of the 8, 051 foreign-born were born in Mex
leo, showing that the number of desirable i'm
migrants was very small. The Territory is, in
fact, deficient in many of the qualifications OF
Statehood. Its population is not American, As
we understand the word The people are
largely of Mexican descent, and speak the
Spanish language A few years ago five-sxths
Of the schools were taught exclusively in that
language, and in half the remainder Spanish
and English divided the honors. In many es-
sentials, it is still Mexican province. The
average of intelligence is low.
We have Just been reminded by the Novem-
Der election that it is possible to blunder in adj
hitting States Nevada stands as warning
against the hasty admission Of Territories. For
twelve years it has been losing populat on, until
it's vote dropped in the late election to l2,111.
The comparative exhaustion of its silver mines
leaves it without firm basis of population az
it has not farming land enough to attract i'm
migrants. But Nevada is in the Union, and
cannot be made to step down and out except
with its own consent, which is not likely to be
given. The American people do not want to
see this mistake repeated. The future of all
four of the proposed Northwestern States is
already assured by their agricultural develop
ment and they are not inhabited by an alien
race They can be safely invited in. But
New-Nlexico may perhaps need to wait until it
has been Americanizcd.