New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-22
NEV STATES.
than ever.


Forty.two States and eighty-four Senators
II depepds upon President Cleveland, for there
is scarcely chance that in either OF the Iour
Territories which have so long ana ahAiouSiy
pleaded for admission to the Union thefe VIII
he any failure to take the steps required uhuer
tho hill which has now passed both houses
Strange as it may seem, in self-govemlng
Nation n single man, who will two weeks hence
he nathing but a private citizen, has sole and
absolute power to keep out Of the Union Tour
States with nearly million inhabitants IheSe
inhabitants, moreover, are not allens nor
strangers, but most Of them native-born Amen-
cans, who have received and exercised rights
of citizenship in some of the older States ana
are now deprived of all share in the govern
ment of the country only because they nave
helped by their enterprise and toll 10 ueVeiop
resources and build up civilized ana sen-goV-
erning communities in belt OF territory
stretching from the Mississippi to tho Pacihc
Ocean. To prolong their exclusion after inc
Senators from the States and the Representa-
tives of the people, two bodies controlled by
opposite political parties, have both aSsented
to their admission, would be an act of robbery
utterly without excuse.
1t is commonly assumed by Southern Demo
Gratis that President Cleveland will Kill the
Territorial bill by pocket veto, though the
number of his partisans who opposed the meas
IRE to the last gives reason to believe that he
would be sustained, if he could embody any
respectable objection in veto. In such cir
cumstances, a refusal to send in veto and a
decision to kill the bill without giving reasons
would be most damaging confession that the
President had no objection to offer which would
bear the light of day. But there are other
considerations which, if he cares for his own
reputation and for the future OF his party,
should make the President refuse to listen TO
the narrow sectional counsel Of the Southern
leaders. II is characteristic of President Cleve-
land that he has disappointed all classes OF his
supporters by turns, at times acting more wise
Nv than the less sensible of them expected.
Possibly in this matter it is the turn Of MesSrs.
Carlisle, Mills and their associates to be disap-
pointed.
It might naturally be matter of pride to
the President that more States had come into
the Union by this act than by the assent Of any
other President in the country's history. But
far more substantial reasons are likely to pre-
sent themselves to his mind. II he kills this
bill, another Of substantially the same tenor
will quickly be considered in an extra session,
with Republicans holding a majority in both
houses, and Republican President waiting to
sign it. Democratic exclusion followed by
Republican welcome would tend to set the four
Territories unchangeably against the Democrat
ic party. Moreover, filibustering resistance in
the House is to be expected from the Demo-
cratic lunatcs, and few of them could make
long delay at great injury to public interests,
but struggle on such an issue would be any
thing but helpful to the Democratic party. The
malignant sectionalism of an attempt to ex-
clude loyal settlers OF the Northwest, when
made mainly by men who are suffered to sit in
Congress because generous loyal men have par
doned their treason, would assuredy damage
the party in every Northern State. Not
thing could possibly be gained in the end, but
great deal would be lost. If the President
considers this matter, and reflects that his own
reputation as an upright and faithful Execu-
tive will be much affected, it is possible that
he may this time disappoint the faction which
has so openly claimed to control him.