The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-26
A DEMOCRAT SPEAKS.

Hon. Geo. Ainslie, of Idaho City
formerly Delegate in Congress, is
out in the following letter to the
Joint Statehood Committee. While
Mr.. Ainslie may possess all the
ether peculiarities charged against
the advocates of Statehood, of one
thing there can be no doubt-his
Democracy is unquestioned:
IDAHO CITY, Oct. 10, 1889,
To E J. Curtis and James Ell.
Wickersham, Esqs., Joint Cam
paign Committee
GENTLEMEN Il cannot see how
anyone, Democrat or Republican,
who has a proper appreciation of
the inestimable benefits and priyil-
eyes of American citizenship, can
oppose the change from Territorial
vassalage to the Sovereignty OF
Statehood. Home rule, or local
self government, is recognized by
every intelligent individual as a
boon and blessing.
The semi-dependent condition
under which the people of Terri
tory labor, is inconsistent with both
the letter and spirit of republican
institutions, and is entirely foreign
to the American system of free
government, "by the people, for the
people"
The opponents of Statehood have
no valid, nor reasonable ground
upon which to base their opposition.
The false cry of increased taxa
ton is the last resort of demagogues
and political cranks, who always
oppose anything and everything of
a progressive nature - relating
either to political conditions or in
dustrial enterprise. They are mere
bunions on the feet of progress, that
impede our advancement and evolu-
luton from state of infantile
Territorial dependency to the full
majesty of independent and vigor-
GUS political manhood. While the
Constitution framed by the late
Convention may, and undoubtedly
does contain some obnoxious pro-
visions, yet, taken as whole, it
will compare favorably with the
Constitutions of many of the older
States; and our political existence
under it would be a vast improve
ment on the present nondescript
condition of Territorial servitude.
No work of man can be perfect.
No Constitution could be framed
and adopted by any convention that
would in all things meet the views,
and receive the unqualified indorse-
ment of every member. Some
people are given to finding fault,
and men may be found opposing
the Constitution and Statehood,
who believe an improvement could
be made to Christ's Sermon on the
Mount, and an amendment properly
made to the Ten Commandments.
In the vast range of subjects
covered by a Constitution, there
must necessarily be many interests
affected upon which the opinions
and views of members are as
diverse and, apparently irreconcil-
able as upon many other less i'm
portant questions. No Constitu-
lion of any State, has, in every
article, or clause, exactly met the
wishes of the men who framed it;
but in spirit of compromise, with
desire to harmonic, as far as
possible, all conflicting interests,
and opinions, SO as to reach a COM
mon end, the absolute enfranchise-
ment of the people, as a mass, from
all political disabilities incident to
Territorial condition. Members
of the late convention, differing in
opinion, yielded a little here and a
little there, until finally the Con-
stitution, as a whole, was agreed
upon and adopted by practically
an unanimous vote of the conven-
ton.
My experience, as lawyer, has
been, that it is a difficult matter to
get twelve men in jury box who
will agree on a verdict that is salts
factory to all of them. How much
more difficult then, is it for sixty or
seventy men in men in convention
represting every branch of industry,
occupation and professional pur-
suit in Idaho, to agree upon a Con-
stitution, every article and clause
of which would be entirely salts
factory to each member, and to the
entire people. Such contamination
may be devoutly wished for, but it
is among the impossibilities.
An overwhelming majority in
Convention adopted the Constitu-
ton, and, realizing that it is a
cardinal principle of Democratic, as
we'll as Republican faith, "that the
majority shall rule" I give
my hearty and unqualified sup
port to the Constitution and
Statehood for Idaho; and believing
that the people will indorse, at the
polls, the work of the Convention,
I hail the coming of a new era of
prosperity and progress following
the admission of Idaho as sover-
eign State of the Union.
| am yours very truly,