The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-05
STATEHOOD.

fer some suggestions on the State
hood question, and l want to pre-
face my remarks by saying that it
is a great pity that the joint COM
mittee of the two parties is not max
ing some move to explain the pro-
visions of the Constitution to the
people. l have visited almost all
portions of the Territory within the
last three months, and / find quite
different constructions put upon the
same clauses in different parts of
the Territory. There will be some
votes against Statehood solely
through misconstruction and if a
reasonable canvas could be made,
the people called together and the
instrument discussed, l am salts
fed the result would be good.
I suppose the committee has
good grounds for inaction but even
that is being misconstrued, | be-
lieye, for ] have heard it repeatedly
asserted that the makers of the
Constitution were afraid to have its
provisions discussed and could not
defend it, hence they were endeav-
oring to "pooh hook" it through by
making believe there is no need of
any action. Others say it proves
that the traditional negro is in the
wood pile, else they would not keep
so shady. | believe there is good
reason for the inaction, but with
the people who oppose Statehood
| would ask: Why don't the COM
mittee give the public the reason
for its inactivity?
I want it understood that [ am
in favor, now and forever, of full
and free discussion of all matters
of public interest. | am as deeply
interested in this question as any
man in Idaho, for the reason that
everything | have on earth is in
Idaho, and expect to live and die
within her borders. 1t would be as
bad for me to be wrong on public
questions like this as for any one,
hence | would not deceive myself
nor anyone else. But let us reason
together and see which is best. |
am in favor of Statehood; if | am
wrong show me reasons sufficient
and I will change my line of action
and oppose it. You are against
Statehood; if you change it will be
when your judgment is convinced,
So let us reason together.
I heard the remark made a
short time ago by voter in this
county that there was not a quar-
ter section of school land in Idaho
that would sell for SO an acre.
Now that voter starting off on that
kind of information as basis is
sure to draw wrong conclusions.
for he judges all of Idaho by that
within his own range Of vision;
whereas, the truth is that there are
of acres of school land in
Idaho that would sell readily at
from SIS to $25 per acre. There is
as fine land in Idaho, Nez
Perez and Latah counties as any
person ever saw, to say nothing of
the fine lands of our own valleys.
saw school sections in Latah
county surrounded on all sides by
wheat fields that would go from 80
to so bushels to the acre, and no ir-
rigatlon needed. Ada county is
not Idaho. Because there are in
mates in our county poor house
does not prove that we all are pau
pers. Idaho's interests are varied
and grand and any person not
pessimist could not but feel proud
Of his citizenship thereinif he could
see her in all her grandeur and
mountain locked en-
pire.
1t seems to me that patriotism or
love of country is quite a feature in
The general makeup of mankind.
[ can remember, when a boy, seeing
men leave their business, their
homes, their wives and children
and cheerfully give their lives for
their country, following their fully
developed love of country. And
every day we have illustrations Of
The affection still lingering around
our native States. How different
when regarding Idaho as a future
State. Our taxes will be increased,
they say. We will have to pay
some additional tax and they let
The few dollars that they think will
be levied in additional taxes drown
their love of citizenship in State.
Drown their State love, their State
pride, their equal rights with other
citizens, their voice in national af-
fairs, their ability of striking back
when they are struck, and demand
ing their portion of the patrimony.
Va $1,000 - ,,.,,o