The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-10-06
THE RIGHTS OF TERRITORIES.

in proceeding toward statehood without
the assistance or advantage of an enabling
act by Congress is new thing, are per
haps only students of current history, or
it may be, of no history at all And theil
number is not so very slight either. At
or about the time that the tirst-named
through a prominent citizen inquired OF
General MILLERif such proceed
ing on the part Of said territory would be
deemed lawful and receive recognition,
THE HERALD pronounced such inquiry use
less if not absurd, not because of thinking
Mr.. MILLER a rather Indifferent lawyer as
to national affairs on anything of that
kind, but because of the indisputable prim-
airy fact that any body Of people have the
right to peacefully assemble and petit
ton Congress for redress of grievances,
and surely the peaceful and dignitied move
ment of territory in the direction of state
hood cannot be regarded in any other light
than that of petition for the redress of
grievance.
However, as suggested, this is but pri-
mary reason. There are an abundance of
others, notable among which are a line of
honorable and successful precedents. 1t
might be said that California thrust her
self into the union, and going back still fur
Their, we select sample of that great ana
thrifty commonwealth, Kentucky. It is
claimed that in historical significance the
admission of Kentucky was an event
second only in Importance to the adoption
of the federal constitution. Itwas the first
of the large western states to assume self
control and apply for admission as
state. Politically and commercially, the
influence of this proceeding was at once
perceptible. This was in 1899, and the
papers Of that state are already clamoring
for the proper observance of the centenary.
The CouT'ier-Journdl says that the event
should be celebrated in manner worthy
of the state, and that Louisville could do
no more appropriate thing than to dedicate
to the past and to the future in 1892 build
ing, large and comprehensive, which would
include an art gallery, library, public
auditorium, and schools both for the arts
and sciences. Such building, it continues,
should be historical monument, should
commemorate the deeds of the founders of
Kentucky, and it should provide for the
perpetuation of their memories for another
century by means of art and education
The occasion and the opportunity meet, for
it thinks that under proper management
they could easily carry oul this suggestion
Undoubtedly the occasion should be com
memorated, and of course the metropolis of
Kentucky is the proper place for such com
memoration. The same authority says
1.-THE people of Louisville recognize the i'm
portance of such building, the necessity
for hall devoted not to profit merely, but
to public uses, that might take the place in
Louisville, in the future, occupied by the
Fanueil hall in Boston in the past If in
addition to that we could secure great
historical library, enlarge and extend the
polytechnic library, reorganize the art gal
lery, establish industrial and art schools
and adorn the buildings with historical
portraits and statues, we will have monu-
ment surpassed by no city in the country
To all of which The HERALD contributes
it's concurrence.
ANY kind of memorial that may be
adopted will be useful in more ways than
merely marking an event. 1t will be a
standing reminder of the fact that commu-
mites when united do not have to rely upon
the parent government in this country.
The individual being frse and independent
and necessarily the foundation of the com
monwealth, it follows that the latter must
he like unto him. This is the theory of our
government, and everything subversive of
it is revolutionary and should be treated as
such. Even the talk of a strong paternal
or central government at Washington OF
elsewhere ought to be sternly frowned
down We are aware that pursuing this
legitimate and vital doctrine little further
than was deemed consistent with national
unity came very near being its destruction
quarter of century ago; and that those
who, actuated by a patriotic purpose
because possessed of too much zeal, were
brought under the ban of the powers that
won and have since had to endure the
stigma of traitors, whereas in fact they
were simply pursuing course which our
magma charta and the spirit of our institu-
lions not only permitted but justified.
ANY territory has a right to form con
stitution of course, and not only without
the consent but even with the disapproval
of the national lawmakers, so long as it is
not put in the shape of a formal statute.
Of course, also, the work thus accomplished
will be unavailing without the territory's
friends in both houses of Congress should,
when the document is presented, be in a
maiority-a two-thirds majority unless the
President should also be friendly to the
movement. The fact that such pro
cedure does not always win is
not specially significant; oftener than
otherwise the failure is because the work
has been engineed BY those whose only
object is self -aggrandisement and who hope
to accomplish more for themselves, their
relatives and immediate friends by means
of statehood than is possible in terri
torial condition. Congress does not always
perform bright or especially able work,
but it is nearly always able 10 see through
a thin veneering Of patriotism when there
is sinister purpose behind it. Let pre-
tenders whose only ability is borrowed and
whose highest conception of a public duty
is private gain, stand aside, or better
still, step out altogether, when there is a
movement on hand looking to the emanci-
patton of a territory. Otherwise there is
not much chance, no matter how favorable
the conditions generally may be.
JUDGE CARLTON, formerly chairman Of
the Utah Commission, continues to occupy
the position he so long held regarding af-
fairs in this territory. The Terre Haute