Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-08-23

burdens and unfair determinations
between the States.
We reaffirm the policy of appro-
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 magni6-
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 Of 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
lic 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 ap-
propriations made for that purpose
to harass innocent settlers with spies
and prosecutions under the false
pretense of exposing frauds and vim
dicating 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 Unien; therefore,
whenever the conditions of popula.
ton, material resources, public intel
ligence and morality are such as to
insure stable local government there
in, the people of such Territories
should be 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 fide residents
and ci,ize ms Of the Territory wherein
they are to serve. South Dakota
should of right be Immediately adj
mitted 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
ocratic House Of Representatives, 70
partisan purposes, to consider these
bills, is wiilful violation Ct tn.
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 aud es
tablisn State governments should b
. passed without unnecessary delay
+, The Republican party pledges itsel
) to do all ia its power to facilitate tn
t admission Of the Territories Of Ne,
S Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho aud Arizo
ma to the enjoyment of self.govern
, ment as States; such Of them as ar
3 now qualified as soon as possible, an
$ the others as soon as they may becom
so. The political power OF the MOI
), mon Church in the Territories as e,
. ercised in the past, is a menace to fire.
institutions and dangerous to be Ion
S suffered; therefore we pledge tn
:. Republican party to appropriate legs
I la:ion asserting the soverei gnty {
3 the nation in ali Territories where tn
I same is questioned, and in fur'heranc
4 of that end, to place upon the statut
hooks, Legislation stringent enough
divorce the political from the eccle
4 iastical power, and thus stamp out tn
e attendant w,ckedness of polygamy.
= The Republican party is in favor {
the use OF both gold and silver ,
-. money. and condemns the policy {
=, the Democratic administration in i
y efforts TO demonetize silver.
!, We demand reduction of lettt
= postage to one cent.
= In republic like ours, where I'll
!, citizens is the sovereign and the off
! cial the servant, where no power
9 exercised except by the will of II
- people, it is important that the sove
eighty, the people, should possess il
!, telligence. The free school is tt
:, promoter of that intelligence which
a to preserve us Il free nation; Their
= fore, the Sta,e or nation, or both con
q bined, should support free instit'
= tons Of learning. sufficient to affor
q to every child growing up in the Ian
! the opportunity of a good commo
8 school education.
I We earnestly recommend thu
4 prompt action be taken by Congre:
!. in the enactment of such Legislature
as will best secure the rehabilitatlo
n of our American merchant marin