Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-07-30
Can Nevada Rcnouncc Statehood !

The people of this country have re-
Gently been witnessing the entry Of new
states into the Union. The departure of
of an old state would hc II somcw hat
novel sight. Aud yet Nevada to-day is
altogether In that unique condition.
The population has SO decreased that at
the last general election her whole vote
for president did not exceed that of one
of the populous wards of Philadelphia
Her internal resources have diminished
To such large extent that the state il
actually poverty-strickcn. Apart from
her minerals and metals the wealth of
Nevada has never been considerable
Her people as "A general rule lacked in
intelligence and integrity and readily
became the dupes of the rich mine
owners and spectators, Her barren
lands produce no vegetation of any uc-
count, and her cities never had perma-
nent growth.
Politically speaking Nevada has al
ways had considerable more power than
she deserved. In the nature of our
federal constitution this depOpulated and
deserted state is equal in influence and
voting power in the United States Senate
TO the states of New York aud Pennsyl-
vania. As was to be expected Nevada
never sent man ofhonor or brain To rep
resent her in the Senate. It is true She
had very little AT home To he represented.
But then the T. :. senators legislate for
the whole Union, not for one state.
Nevada has always been u fertile field in
politics for the "bunan2a" king. The
question who could best represent her in
the Senate was never once raised or sug-
gested The only matter for consdcra-
tion in political campaign was, who
could pay the highest price for the votes
of the members of the Legislature. This
Is the condition of aiiairs in some other
states sometimes, but never 80 openly and
directly as in Nevada.
During the past few years 40 poverty
stricken has become the state that the
mere expense of the state government
has become too heavy 10 bear. The
mines are failing aud all wkD can yet
away are leaving the state. There is
nothing offered 10 attract the energy
and wealth Of the East and eycrythiuo
flows into the other more highly favored
states.
An interesting problem under our fed
eral constitution would arise if the citi-
zens of Nevada would desire To give up
their state rights and go back To terri
torial pupilage. 1t is certain Ncyada
could not now be admitted 10 the
Union, not having the requisite num-
Der OF inhabitants. But now that She
is In, can she get out ? Such propo-
sition would not necessarily involve the
question of secession which WAS def
niteiy settled by the late war. 1t would
only involve a surrender of the stat,
rights which Congress had conferred an
nevada, when she was clothed i'm tho
habiiinents OF statehood. Gould uo, a
state surrender these rights aud take
back her territorial government if she 80
desired? We mean ought not a STATE no
permitted so 10 do? There seems Ia ho
no provision for such "A proceeding in
the constitution. Could not il ha nro-
vided for by an amendment 10 the CON.
stitution? Suppose the citizens refused
- maintain state government, elected
NO governor and convened no I,eeisIo.
ture. Would Congress consider th.,
state To have surrendered her state right.
Through default or non-user, and To bay,
sipped back into territorial condition
would Congress assume charge of ne,
government and consider her a terri,