Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-08-03

prlatlng the publlc 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
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
preparations 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 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 tide residents
and citizens of the Territory wherein
they are to serve. South Dakota
should of right be Immediately ad-
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, fol
partisan purposes, to consider these
: bills, is willlul violation Of the
sacred American principle Of loca
self. government, and merits the con
? demnation of all just men. The
A pending bills in the Senate for acts t.
, enable the people of Washington
l North Dakota and Montana Terri
tories to form Constitutions and es
I tablisn State governments should b.
/. passed without unnecessary delay
!, The Republican party pledges itsel
$ to do all in its power to facilitate tn
/ admission of the Territories Of New
5 Mexico, Wyoming, Idaho and Arizo
q ma to the enjoyment of self'govern
G ment as States; such Of them as ar
e now qualified as soon as possible, an
$ the others as soon as they may becom
= so. The political power Of the Nor
5, mon Church in the Territories as ex
. ercised in the past, is a menace to fire.
institutions and dangerous to be lon
S suffered; therefore we pledge tn
S, Republican party to appropriate legls
If la,ion asserting the sovereignty {
e the nation in all Territories where tn
IT same is questioned, and in furtheranc
n Of that end, to place upon the sta,ut
books, Legislation stringent enough
e divorce the political from the eccle'
n iastical power, and thus stamp out tn
'e attendant wickedness of polygamy.
{, The Republican party is in favor {
o the use Of both gold and silver ,
T.. money. and condemns the policy {
81 the Democratic administration in i
al efforts TO demonetize silver.
II We demand reduction Of lettt
B" postage to one cent.
", ~ In republic like ours, where til
l. citizens is the severe gn and the of
,, cial the servant, where no power
- exercised except by the will Of tt
% % people, it is important that the sove
y, eighty, the people, should possess il
:, telligence. The free school is tt
- - promoter Of that intelligen &c which
)" to preserve us free nation; Their
~, y. fore, the STATE or nation, or both con
., bined, should support free instit'
=. tons of learning, sufficient to aftoI
:, - to every child growing up in the lar
81 the opportunity of a good comme
- school education.
=, We earnestly recommend tn
ID prompt action be taken by Congre
9 in the enactment of such legislatlo
n AS will best secure the rehabilitatic
,, of our American merchant marin
r. and we protest against the passat
~ by Congress of the free ship bill
calculated to work mi lstice to lab