The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-12-14
THE NEW NORTHWEST: DEER LODGE, MONTANA, FRIDAY,
THE MATTER OF STATEHOOD.

49, AV1
y THE MATTER OF STATEHOOD.
The main question Of Statehood, wit
some incidental questions, is being brougt
. to the front again by = suggestion from th
Dakota Convention, which recently met Z
jamestown, OAK, that an inter- erritoris
: Convention be held by the two Dakota.
Montana and Washington, with . view t
uniting upon some line of action that viii
: hasten the admission of the two Dakotas an
the other two Territories named. The Hell
0 ena Record endorses the project and Ia
8 interviewed 4 number of prominent citizen
of Montana, calling out varied expression
on the advisabiiity Of immediate Statehood
in the abstract, the question of the old or
new constitution, and the scheme of thu
three Territories uniting to push the move
ment for admission. The Record also sug
gests Helena IS the proper place to bold the
convention, and . considerable number oil
those interviewed seem to be Influenced BY
that consideration.
If we may be allowed to express an opin.
ion, we think the projected inter- Territorial
Convention worse than useless. The end
sought is independent Statehood. We de.
mand 1t as . right of our own; not contin.
gent by any means on the rights of other
Territories, and not to be hindered by any
Of their local distractions The Springer
omnibus bill was Objectionable in slump
Ing" us all together-tryiDg to smuggle in
New Mexico, which is unqualified for State
hood, and compel Dakota to be admitted as
. whole, when 1t desires to be admitted as
two States. To be sure it was a political
trick to keep out Dakota, Washington and
Montana, but that will not avail after March
! 4, 1880. The new administration and new
Congress will consider US on the ground of
our separate deservings, as it should, and it
will not require an expensive lobby to boost
us in. If the Congress of the United States
shall ask the representative of Montana, son
what grounds do you claim admission for
Montana? ?" he can satisfactorily present the
statistics and facts to establish her right.
Nothing that representatives Of Dakota or
Washington could say could kelp or harm
US. Nor should it. Nothing We could say
would help or harm the prospects of Dakota
or Washington. Nor should it. Let the
question be determined in the abstract and
absolute right thereto of every Territory, or
half Territory, asking admission. This is
one of the cases where in union there would
not be strength, but weakness. We do not
care for identical constitutions, or admission
on the same day nor should we complicate
our claims with those Of any Territory.
-
Despite the rather favorable sentiments
expressed by some of the members at the
House Democratic caucus on Tuesday even. !
ing, We do not believe any favorable action
will be taken by the present Congress. If
they consider the matter from the standpoint |
of rights, We are little better entitled now
than two months ago, when our rights were
ignored. II there is q reaction it is on polit-
ical grounds, in the hope some prestige may
be gained, and that the Democrats may elect
In the Territories recently giving heavy Re.
publican msjorities some State officers;
whereas, left as Territories, President Har-
will appoint all Republicans. If this
game Of political finesse is attempted, they
will find Republican Senators also keeping
the situation in view. 1t does not appear
the matter is one of urgency.
Incidental to this, the probleE comes up
of admission under the constitution adopted
years ago, or the adoption of q new
one under an enabling act from Congress.
We confess a preference for the old constitu-
lion and an apprehension that another con.
will not form one so desirable. Sue.
cessful pressure would possibly now be
brought in the interest of corporations that
did not then have controlling influence, to :
secure deviations from what were good
then, and which are good now, =
md ever will remain so. The question is, .
would Congress admit US under the old con-
%tltution, or require, as q prerequisite, the :
of q new constitution under an .
act to be hereafter passed? Our .
has been formally ratified BY
he people. We could be organized into a
'tate within a month if Congress and the =
resident should so determine but it will
equire many months, and perhaps years, to
o over the entire work again.
q
We notice in the interview with National b
Warren, he thinks Home q
'ule will give us satisfactory government in q
ur Territorial condition, and is apprehen-
i've of heavy taxation under q tate govern :,
rent. It will be better, of course, to have Il
from our own people, and undoubt. q
dly a State debt will be created with per. b
apps heavier taxation. But of the creation !,
t that debt and of those taxes We will have h
'ntrol, and if, with the magnificent resour-
IS and products of Montana, we confess o.
~lrselves not able to establish and maintain :,
D economical State government, we mani n
ut . lack of confidence in ourselves that D,
never characterized the people of any id
her Territory of equal wealth and popula- 4;
on. Beside, there is something more than h,
in Statehood. It will surely n,
'ough make us citizens again Of these 81
nited States, Charley, that you shouidered "i
'ur gun to preserve but it will also give 70
ontana the right to make her own laws
will raise her above the instability of and ~
upon Territorial enactments !; it -
III give us power in Congress to oppose AZ
stile and secure helpful legislation, in Pa
lad of begging for it; it will place US III
yond q return to carpet-bag government
d the additional taxation under q State If
vernment, if any there should be, will be y,
IRE than compensated in the eyes of CAPT. is
by knowledge that identity of interest on
always prevent injurious legislation vii
Q that Of the alien law, for instance. An
ere are small States, with limited resour- ad,
and small and decreasing population; inc
ask any citizen of any one of them if he i
uld be willing for his State to revert to a Go
condition. To remain . Terri Ha
? after we can be rightfully admitted as q -. .si,