The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-18
THE rEvApA QUESTION.

The Eastern papers are beginning 70
discuss what they term the Nevada
auestionv-tha is. what to do with q
state which il no longer lit for state
hood. In eight years the vote OF Ne
yada has decreased from 1873 TO
I2.27s. and the population. presuning
the ratio Of population TO the number
of votes cast to be the same IN 1873 az
in 1850, from g. 2se to about a0.ooo-
Az the New York Sun declares, there
are at least 80 counties in the state Of
New York which have a larger popn-
iation than the state of Nevada. II Is
evidently unjust, therefore. that The
few people remaining in Nevada, not
enough to populate first-ciass county
In any Of dozen states OF the Union
should have a power In the senate
equal 10 that OF New York, Pennsyl-
yauia or Ohio, and power in the
house Of representatives equal TO that
possessed by four times their number
In any other Northern state. The
worst Of II Is that the population OF
Nevada Is still shrinking. though not
AT 90 rapid rate M during the first
part Of the decade, and that il may be
expected 10 sink 10 fifteen or
twenty thousand. IL l. possible that
Il will then begin TO increase
once more and II may eventually be
greater several times over than II has
ever been IN the past, but under the
most favorable conditions, it is doubt
full whether Nevada will ever have a
sufficient population 10 justify Its
presence in the Union. It will always
present the spectacle OF a population
welding power in the national gov
eminent entirely out OF proportion
with its size.
1t is evident, therefore, that the
Nevada question may yet become d
serious one, and this IL the more posi-
BILE since IL is question without any
apparent solution. The constitution
provides for the admission OF new
states, but provides no way for getting
state out of the Union. The repre-
sentatiyes Of the smaller states in the
constitutional convention took care of
that, fearing that their larger neigh
bors might one day attempt TO deprive
them OF the full benefits Of the Union
into which they we're entering. II the
population OF Nevada should continue
10 shrink until there were not one
thousand people within the borders OF
the tate, there would still be no legal
way OF forcing it out OF the Union
without the consent OF its people.
Even with that consent, there would
be some difficulty about the matter,
for though several states have sought
pathway out Of the Union, none
has found one. In whatever manner
the subject is viewed, the conclusion
must be reached that Nevada is In TO
stay.
1t is surprising that the solution Of
the question offered by Senator Stew
srt about two years ago does not at
tract greater attention at this time.
This il 10 divide Idaho. annexing the
northern portion TO Washington and
the southern portion 10 Nevada. This
would bring the population of the
state above 10000, and II would in
crease steadily for many years TO
come. OF course, Nevada with this
addition would be huge, misshapen
state, but il would never support a
great population. The objeo ions TO
this plan are all Of purely senti-
mental nature. and she arguments
which may be urged in favor Of it are
both forcib.e and practical II offers.
II not the best solution Of the Nevada
question that could be desired, at least
the best that seems possible.
For some reason, however, this plan
l. not looked upon with favor, and the
Nevada question seem. 10 be doomed
10 be one OF those for which salts
factory answer {. never found.
s