The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-12-05
Our Grand Commonwealth VIII
Soon Be a State.
DESERVED TRIBUTE TO HER.
"There Can Be But One Opinion
Among Just Men,
Years of serfdom Drawing to Close
The Dawn of Brighter Day
Is seen liz the
East,


to at least one section of the Demo-
cratic party. The territories which
have been knocking for admission to
the union some years now feel cheered
by the outlook. Democratic delega-
tons from Arizona, New Mexico and
Utah are expected to arrive in the city
Immediately after the opening of the
session to urge upon the party in Con-
Hgress the necessity of prompt action
on measures comforting statehood on
the territories.
1t seems to be an memorable law that
political events must move in cyclones,
and the decentralization of the party
in the recent elections has warned
the older leaders of a general defeat
next year and the turning over of the
House of Representatives to the Re
publican majority as among the pos
sibilities. Then, too, the power of the
House of Representative ever since
the reconstruction has alternated with
mechanical regularity and if the rule
OF the past is to be a criterion to the
future, the Republican hope of supre-
macy in the lower house of the next
Congress may be fairly realized.
The possibility, added to the other
fears, which has become general in
Democratic ranks that the United
States Senate to be chosen to enter up
on the term of office March, 1895. may
make that body Republican, makes
the leaders anxious to gain at once
whatever political advantage it is pos
sible to derive from the new territories.
Measures for the admission of New
Mexico, Arizona and Utah are now
pending in Congress and are to be
pressed to vote without needless de-
lay The delegates from all these
territories are now Democrats, and it
is confidently asserted by Democrats
OF the prospective states that there
is no doubt the United States senators
and congressman to be elected in the
new states will be of the same political
faith and thus materially assist to main
tain the supremacy of the Democracy
IN Congress as well as furnish a sig
nltleant quota of Democratic ELECTORAL
votes to the electoral college in the
next presidential contest.
+ The House committee on territories
mas shown unprecedented punctuality
IN disposing of these measures. The
bllis for the admission of New Mexico,
Arizona and Utah all have been re-
ported favorably and will come up
early Tor consideration in the House.
senator Faulkner, chairman of the
senate committee on territories. saws
prompt action will be taken on the
statehood bills by his committee.
The House report favoring the ad-
mission OF Utah is of peculiar interest
because of the hitherto deep-seated
opposition TO Its admission, on account
or the predominance of the Mormon
slement- The report is prefaced by the
proclamation of President Harrison is
sued last January, declaring polygamy
dead III the territory and granting free
amnesty and pardon to all offenders
previous TO Nov. l. 1890, who have
since led a lawful life. The reports
ana recommendations of the judges
and various commissioners are also
quoted at great length. The committee
further says many myriads of people
who heretofore have looked upon the
Mormons as moral outlaws it is be-
lieved will change their opinion and
admit that a people showing the char
acteristicS the Mormons possess are at
least worthy of statehood with full
admission to all the rights of Ameri-
can citizenship.
The committee concludes as follows:
"All mouths should be hushed and all
opposition siienced, after the president
has amnestied past offenses; after both
political parties in national convention
assembled have declared the time has
ritories, of which Utah is one; after
the territorial conventions of 1892,
wherein both of said great parties de-
clared for statehood, and that the hour
is ripe for the admission of Utah;
after the legislature of Utah has de-
clared unanimously for statehood;
after the governor of the territory, all
of its judiciary. all of whom are Re
publican in politics, have declared in
their opinion polygamy is abolished
and at an end; after all the members
of the Utah commission, created ex-
pressly to crush and obliterate polyr-
amy. have declared their work practi-
cally accomplished; after the Mormon
church, through all its heads and Of
ficials, publicly, privately and in every
way possible for mortals TO do and to
proclaim, have with bowed heads, if
not in anguish, pledged their faith and
honor that never more in the future
shall polygamv within the Mormon
church be a doctrine of faith or prac-
tice. there certainly can be but one
sentiment, but one opinion, among all
Just minded legislators in Congress
upon the question of duty and that of
justice, to admit Utah as state into
the Federal Union"
The report favoring the admission of
New Mexico is of special significance
at this time, because it meets the So
called know nothing's arguments"
which have so often been advanced
against the admission of this territory
with its heavy Mexican-born popula-
ton. The committee produces statis-
tics showing the proportion of the for
eign to the native-born population. is
hut / to Ia in New Mexico. while it is
but / to 4 in Washington, to in
Montana, 2 to in Dakota-facts which
will be a great surprise to the public,
but which seem to be fully borne out
by the official reports. Continuing, the
committee says: Can 1t be said ma
tive of New Mexico who renowned
his allegiance to the republic of Mexico
over, forty years ago, has less devo-
ton to Republican principles or less
fitness for American citizenship, than
subject of European kingdoms who
has within a few years left his native
home?"
The report urging the admission OF
Arizona. is chiefly devoted TO review
ing the resources of the territory and
declaring the days OF lawlessness and
bloodshed have passed. 1t is hoped by
the Democra tic leaders having charge
of these measures that all three may
pass the two houses and become laws
before next March.
THE ALIEN CONTRACT LAW.
1.s.sn~ ~ T,unortance nv the SUI