Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-22

The House havingunder consider
alton the bill III. r. 1852 to provide
for the admission Of the State Of
Idaho into the Union
Mr.. Chipn1su said:
Mr.. Speaker: 1 agree entirely
with the gentleman from Arizona
Mr.. SMITH that it would have been
better If all four Of the territories
mentioned by him had been put into
one bill and submitted 10 our con
sideratiOn. 1 can see no reason-I
never have, since l have been in
Congress, seen any reason-why
either New Mexico or Arizona
should not be admitted to the sister
hood Of States. As compared with
the territory OF Wyoming and with
the territory Of Idaho, they have ali
the elements which enti:le them to
admission. II there is any ohjec-
ton to New Mexico, il is an oliiec-
ton which applies TO it in common.
rs il would seem, with the territory
Of Idaho.
What has been urged against New
Mexico is the character uf her pOpu-
iati0n. II the extraordinary pro-
vision concerning suffrage in the
sixth article Of the Constitution now
before Us e justified by the facts, il
shows that there is an improper pop
ulation in IdshO-a population in
numbers 50 great as 10 be n menace
10 the prosperity Of the Stlte-a pop
ulati0n which, upon the hypothesis
of this clause in the Constitution Is
hostile 70 our institutions and unfit
TO take part in the government. This
Is the argument that has been urged
against New Mexico. II is the only
argument which / have ever heard
against il, and il now stands, il /
am correctly informed, as a barrier
against bill being reported TO the
House for the admission Of that ter
rit0ry. .
But, sir, | would not upon any
political ground oppose the admis-
sion Of any Territory into the
Union My political brethren will
bear me witness that in the last
Congress / was an advocate for the
admission Of all the Territories, and
that in our party councils asserted.
what / row repeat, that 1t is impos-
sible to exact any pledge OF ;arty
fealty from State prior TO its admis-
siOn-nOt only impossible. but
wrong and unpatTiotic in every way
IN which you can view it. | believe
that it Is best-best for the country
to get rid Of these Territorial gov
ernments, and il is infinitely best
for the people Of n Territory them
selves to enjoy the rights and privi-
leEes Of statehood.
Yet while L feel in this way |
can not forget that the Constitution
Of the United States imposes upon
us the duty Of guarantying a repub-
lican form of government to the
States which constitute the MEM
bers Of the Union. ''What is a re-
publican form Of government
would open a wide range Of discus |
sion. There are republics and there
are repubiics-republics which in
Dur view utterly fall short Of thetrue
definition Of 4 commonwealth Of
hat nature. And our own Repub- |
lie, even in the estimation Of many
IF the best thinkers, does not con-
ain that popular freedom which |
the ideal Of a truly demo- !
ratio state.
But l think | may say safely,
hat no. government Is republican |
n form which makes Oppressive
distinctions between the citizens Of |
State a government which i'm |
q policy, in its constitutions and |
avs, distinguishes progressively |
against one class Of citizens and in i
avOr OF another fails far short of the
model which was set before us as the
rue one OF republican institutions.
This is especially true Of disunc-.
ions which impair in any way a
roper enjoyment of the elective
That franchise is the
very breath Of republican institu-
ions. Manhood suffrage is the very
,ody Of liberty.
The American people have adopt-
p this as faith, and though no.
where expressed in SO many words
n auy Of our constitutions, L think
am fully justified in saying that
t may be considered as sort of
natural right, because it is the only
method which the world has vet
discovered by which a full and per
ect liberty may be maintained for
he people.
The report Of the majority on this
ill seems TO treat manhood suffrage
IS mere political right. 1t un-
loubiedly is such a right; but it bears
he same relation 10 freedom as the
light 70 pray and to preach hears to
he full exercise Of the religion in
which we believe. And just so far
s men are upjustly debarred from