Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1888-08-14

We reatlirm the policy of appro.
priating the public lands of the Unit
ed states for h0mesteads for Ameri-
can citizens and settlers, not aliens,
which the Republican party establish
ed in 1862 against the persistent OBJ
position of Democrats in Congress,
and which has brought our great
Western domain into such magnii-
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
traiion 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 City 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
di,'ons inserted by the Republican
party in the orisina! grants.
We charge the Democratic Admin
ls!ratlon with failure to execute the
laws securing to settlers their titles
to homesteads, and with using ap-
preparations made for that purpose
to hara>s 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 popuia-
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 right in
herent in them, to form for themselves
constitutions and State governments
and be admitted into the Union.
Tending the preparation for State.
hood, all officers thereof should be
selected irom the bona GIe residents
and citizens of the Territory wherein
they are to serve. South Dakota
should Of right be immediately ad-
mltted as a 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 her
admission. The refusal! of the Dem
ocratic House Of Representatives, for
partisan purposes, 70 consider these
bills, is II vil;u! violation Of tie
sacred American principle Of local
self government, and merits the CON
demna,ion Of all just men. The
pending bills IN the Senate for acts TO
enable che p'opie Of Washin. ton,
North Dakota aud Montana Terri
tories to form Constitutions and es-
tab,ian State governments should be
passed without unnecessary delay
The Republican party pledges Itself
to DO all IN is power 10 facilitate the
admission OF the Territories Of New
Mexico, ;" yoming, Idaho and Arizo-
ma to the enjoyment Of sci govern,
mcnt HIS states; such OF them as are
now qualified as soon as possible, and
the others as soon as they may become
SO. The political power of the Nor
mon Church in the Territories as ex-
urcised in til" past, is menace to free
institutions and dangerous 10 be long
suffered; therefore we pledge the
Republican party to appropriate legls,
laion asserting the sovereignty OF
the nation in ali Territories where the
same is questioned, and in furtherance
OF that end, to place upon the statute
books, Legislation stringent enough to
divorce the political from the eccles
ias,ical powef, and thus stamp out the
attendant wlckedness of polysamy.
The Republican party is in favor Of
the use of both gold and silver AS
money, and condemns the policy of
The Democratic administration in its
efforts to demonatize silver
We demand Il reduction OF letter
postage to one cent.
In republic like ours. where the
citizens is the soverei On and the o.li
rial the servant, where no power is
exercised except by the will of the
people, it is important that the soyer,
eighty, the people, should possess in
'eliigence. The free school is the
promoter Of that intelligence which is
10 preserve us Il free nation; there
fore, the Sta.e or nation, or both com
oined, should support free insttu-
lions Of learning, sufficient to afford
/" every child growing up in the land
he opportunity OF a good common
school education.
We earnestly recommend that |
nompt action be taken by Congress
n the enactment of such Legislation
Is will best secure the rehabilitation |
i our American merchant marine,