Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-10-13

! in which the people as whole coun
try could not engage, What did they
dog They washed their hands OF the
trouble by giving these lands to the
several states in which they were slt
uated. Apply this same plan, thu;
same idea, that was actually adopted
by the general government at thai
time in regard TO swamp and over
flowed lands and apply this same prin
ciple to the arid lands OF Idaho
Utah and Nevada, and the same ex
lists for so doing that existed in the
other case. | believe that but very
little earnest work before Congress
would cause these arid lands to Dc
treated as were those swamp lands
cause them to be donated to the states
and territories in which they lie. II
that idea could be carried out, and
have every reason to believe Congress
can be brought to do, and that it will
only be too glad to do so; it would
not be hard to devise system OF
canals by which millions Of acres OF
the public domain could be reclaimed
in this territory; a system that would
put a thousand settlers into our val
leys where we now have but ten; a
system that would make us a great
and glorious state of the nation in q
few years instead of a comparatively
Insignificant territory. Of course, it
will cost money, and a great deal too,
but mind YOU, the territory Of Idaho
is now in a position where it can OBJ
tain money, be it one million or five;
at as low rate as any state or terri
tory in the Union. By expanding one
million dollars for a canal at the head
of Snake river and so spreading the
water over the plains the territory
could sell the lands thus reclaimed
with the water on it, not only for one
million but for two or three millions.
1t could put the price as it pleased,
and could sell it to thousands OF &C
tual settlers and not to monopolists.
l think if this could be done, il would
be the greatest conceivable blessing
imaginable for this territory.
This plan is an original one, and |
offer it as suggestion only. believe
it to be practicable and a good idea
that can be carried out; and will say
that if elected will attempt to carry
it out, unless the sentiment OF the
people Of this territory demonstrate
to me that it is unpracticable or that
my theories and argument were based
upon false premises.
MoRMoNIsM.
There is another question that is agi.
tating a portion of the people Of this
territory and is troubling the Repub-
licans Of this section greatly. The
Republicans Of this territory have a
skeleton in their family closet, and
though that skeleton is laid away to
dry in the dust and darkness the
greater part Of the time, still every
two years they trot it out and rattle
its old bones, work its grinning Jaws.
and crying out, Mormon! Mormon!l
attempt to brighten a few weak
kneed Democrats into the Republican
ranks, into the party they choose to
call the Anti-Mormon party Of the
territory.
When you first cry wolf, you NAV
scare few people OF the community.
but after few repetitions Of the cry
people find out there is no wolf You
may then hollo "wolf' long time be.
fore any one will pay any attention to
the cry So it is with the Mormon
business, they have cried "wolf" too
long They cannot impose upon the
people that the honesty and brains
Of the American people are embodied
in the Republican party. They can
no longer imagine, on account of
The loud mouthed assertions OF their
1rators or the endless platitudes OF
heir newspaper editorials, and the
endless ISLANDERS they have been cast.
ng upon the names OF the Democratic
party. They cannot in this year 1883
Try, loud as the party may, make any
rue Democrat desert the colors OF his
'arty because they choose to howl
normonism at us. Where Is the issue
n this question? There may have
leen an issue once, there is but the
,host of an issue now and ghost
hat can be easily exercised. WHY
his charge made against the Demo.
ratio party in regard to a collision
With the Mormons? Does any man
'elleye that any such assertions are
made against the Democratic candi.
Iates except for political purposes?
this is not the cause why not have
aised this howl Of Anti.Mormonism
TX months or year ago; and kent Il |
efore the people that the Democratic
arty was attempting to favor this
lass of our people.
The Mormon question Is not an il.
no in nnlifi0u fnttEa. =.