The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-08-03
NEW STATES.

1Qb0Cr1Nt1O0 mas 00Gn PAID
NEW STATES.
The Fifty second Congress will admit
four new States. They will be the two
Dakotas, Washington aud Montana
There may be more admitted. If had
my way l would admit them all except
ing possibly Utah, and I rather think
would admit that. I would admit every
territory that had 100000 people.-ssn-
ator Ste,oart. -
It is very evident that Senator
Stewart had in mind the present
deplorable condition Of his own de-
generating thorough" when he re-
marked II would admit every ter
ritory that had 0,O0Opeople." No
doubt his memory reverted back to
quarter of a century ago when Ne
vada was admitted into the Union,
and he had his Gown way" as one
of her first senators. When Nevada
was admitted in 1864 the territory
did not have more than a third
part of 100000 people," and yet
at that time her prospects of a
prosperous future were as bright as
are those of Idaho to-day. During
period of twenty-five years Nevada
has been steadily deteriorating.
Her official robe of statehood has
been but a cnfnbersome garment,
and has added nothing to her ap-
pearance nor comfort. Her people
are not so we'll off now as they
were when Nevada was prematurely
made one of the sovereign states
of the Union. Her deplorable con-
dition is no secret, jealousy hid
within her own borders, but is can
yassed far and near, until "Poor
Nevada" is as familiar as a house
hold word throughout the republic,
in spite of the persistent efforts of
her worthy and honorable senator
to infuse new life into this 'unfor-
tunate offspring of a hasty move
ment made to accomplish politi-
cal object.
Let the leaders of the present at
tempt to organize a state govern
ment for the state of Idaho take
heed lest they-as time rolls on
place our fair territory in the same
lamentable position as that in which
our neighbor is now languishing.
Let them ask, does the territory
possess all the requirements, all
the essential elements; and more
over, has she the requisite popula-
ton to enable her to assume the
burdens incidental to a state gov
eminent.
These are the important questions
which will confront the people when
they shall be called upon to decide
whether they want a state govern
ment for Idaho or not. No intelli-
gent man who has taken the pains
to investigate the subject of the
population of Idaho can deny that
the published statements made from
time to time in regard to the popu-
lation have been greatly exaggerat-
ed. The official vote at our last ter
ritorial election was 16, 400. Taking
this vote as basis-and that is
the only criterion we have at pres
ent to judge by-and allowing an
average population Of three and
half to one voter, we have $3.50.
Any one who is familiar with the
general character of the inhabitants
of Idaho know that they are chiefly
miners without families, and of
necessity migratory in their habits,
consequently the computation of
three and q half persons to one
voter is an exaggerated average
under the circumstances.
All through this movement for
statehood the people have mani
tested but little interest in the ulti.
mate outcome of the agitation,
which is apparent from their indif-
ference to the manner in which
many of the delegates to the con-
stitutional convention we're elected.
The prevailing sentiment seems to
be that our territoryis not yet ready
to assume the grave responsibilities
entailed by state government, but
rather to bide the time when Idaho
will justly be entitled to enter the
federation of states.
The KEYSTONE has been charged
with being one Of the journals of
the territory opposed to state gov.
eminent for Idaho, but such is not
the case; on the other hand this
journal will gladly hail the day
when Idaho's fair territory shall
have become sufficiently possessed
Of the requisite enrolling condi-
tons to enable her people to 60 to
Congress with the assurance that
the territory at last held all the
requisite elements, and constitu-
tion republican in form, and de-
mand an admittance at.the door of
the Union. But the KEYSTONE does
not indorse the present movement,
where the aspirations of ambitious
politicians, rather than the future
welfare and dignity of Idaho, are
40 na(nahlv IN fha ceoor1oco,