St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-14
UTAH,S CLAIMS To STATE
HOOD.

can Union has awakened much aHtag-
onism IN the house. The ground of OPP
position is ostensibly that of morality;
in reality political motives underlie it.
1t is not denied that there is suffi-
cient population in Utah to entitle her
to admission. Indeed, she had larger
population, according to the last CEN
sus, than six other communities that
now enjoy all the rights aud privileges
of statehood. The census shows the
following:
Delaware. 16s, 4Y3 Nevada. -. 45,761
Idaho ....... S4.3S5 n. Dakota. 1S2, 719
Utah 2OS 800
1t will be seen by these figures that
the territory OF Utah has population
greater than the three states of Idaho.
Nevadaand Wyoming combined. These
states have representation of three
representatives and six senators in con-
gress, while Utah has but one delegate,
without vote on any measure save
those that directly affect the interests
OF the territories. Nine votes are cast
by representatives of 190,S51 people.
while 2o7,905 people in all adjeiGing ter
ritory are denied the privilege of cast
ing single vote. Here is rank injus-
tice-an injustice that it is sought to
perpetuate by an appeal to partisan.
religious and moral preiudices.
1t is asserted by the delegate from
Utah, and is known to every man of i'll
telligence throughout the country, that
polygamy in Utah is practically dead.
Plural marriages are no longer cele-
DRAFTED by the Mormon church, nor
sanctioned in any place of authority.
A few of the citizens are living in
polygamous relations, but these are
justified on grounds of humanity. if
not morality. in maintaining their eS-
Establishments. 1t would be manifestly
inhuman in them to cast their super
fuous wives adrift on the world with
out means of support. and practically
without character. Many of these,
while still recognizing their moral obli-
CATION to support their wives, keep aloof
from them in obedience to the man
dates of the law. While nominal polyg-
amistS they are practical monogamists.
But it is not the question of morality
as to Utah that concerns the Republican
opponents of her admission; it is the
question of politics. 1t is reasonably
certain that, after her admission to the
Union, Utah would send unanimous
Democratic delegation to congress. The
majority for Delegate Game in 1890 was
GAL, and he received more than 10 per
0f FL n,,%i n hi IN
ans fear that by the admission of the
territory two votes would be added to
the Democratic strength in the senate
and one vote in the house, and this is
sufficient reason in their minds for OPP
posing the measure.
Aside from polygamy, which is now
practically extinct, the people of Utah
have ever been as moral and upright as
those of any state in the Union, and in
many respects the superlors.of all. They
are frugal, Industrious and temperate.
Drunkenness is unknown among the
Mormors; it is sin visited by instant
accommodation from the church and
the withdrawal of all social amenities
from the guilty person. Industry is one
of the cardinal tenets of the church. A
slothful or an idle man is not tolerated
in their midst. Frugallty is enjoined
upon all, and wastefulness is griev-
Gus fault. The homes of the saints"
are models of cleanllDess; all their sur
roundings show evidences of thrift and
good management These things being
true, and the only legal or moral bar to
their admission having been removed
by the abolition of plural marriage,
there is no valid reason why they should
be denied the privileges of statehood.
Justice demands it. The people of the
territory LAY their share Of the taxes,
and all Americans learned with their
earliest intelligence that taxation with
out representation is one of the gravest
of crimes.
Utah is entitled to statehood, and
should be admitted.