The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-02-11
TERRITORIAL ADMISSIONS.

TERRITORIAL ADMISSIONS.
Except as it may be indefinitely ex-
tended by the annexation Of Hawaii,
says Chicago exchange, or some other
foreign country, the territorial chapter
in our national history is very nearly
ended. The District of Columbia, In.
dian Territory and Alaska are in a
sense territorial, but neither of the
three is an embryo state. OF these
we now have left only four, Arizona,
New Mexico, Utah and Oklahoma,
each of which ought to be admitted as
states by this congress. Two of these,
Oklahoma and Arizona, fell short OF
the requisite population and general
developments in 1890, but now both
are fully up to grade. This is espec-
tally true of the latter, which has
made remarkable strides during its
last two or three years. In 1890 Ari-
zona had a population, exclusive Of
Indians untaxed, of 10000, but now
it has at least $4,000. The assess
ment rolls show $2S, 900, 900 and the
actual value, of the property is fully
three times those figures. The people
are intelligent and progressive. Not
q dollar has ever been spent IN the
territory BY the general government
for buildings Of any kind, but the
territory itself, and its counties, mum
icipalities, and school districts have
incurred an Indebtedness of $3.0oO,-
600, mostly for school houses. Not
a dollar of any Of this Indebtedness
would fall on the national government
in any event. The arid lands are
being rendered productive by irriga-
ton; canals and railroads are being
built as the needs of the people de-
mand. Politically the two parties
are pretty nearly evenly divided, and
neither party can afford to be res
ponsible for any longer postponing
admission.
New Mexico, it is true, has large
element of ignorant "greasers, but
that is the very reason the Democrats
will admit it next year, if it be not
done this winter. They would make
haste to welcome such people, con-
fdent of their abiding Democracy. But
apart from politics the delay in admit
Ting that State, in the hope of an i'm
provement in the general character OF
the population, has been carried far
enough.
Utah should have been admitted
long ago but for polygamy. That
evil does seem to be dying out, but
is far from dead yet. 1t cannot be
ignored with safety. To admit Utah
without any reservation of rights or
any condition precedent would prob
ably have the effect to give polygamy
a new lease of life. the situation is
critical. To let the smoldering embers
of that Ere be famed into fame once
more would be deep disgrace. That
is the main practical point in the
pending admissions. Whether New
Mexico and the other territories come
in now or little later they are bound
to come in substantially their present
condition and without limitation, but
now is the time to provide safeguards
against q restoration Of polygamy.
The Republican senate would be dere-
lict to duty If it failed to do all in its
power to permanently guard against
the great evil and menace. The Re-
publican senators decided in caucus
few days ago to take. favorable action
upon the admission of all the four ter
ritories except Arizona, and the latter
should surely be included in the adj
mission list.
All talk of uniting Utah and Ne
vada is sheer nonsense. Nevada can
no more be divested of its State auto
nomy than Illinois. Delaware ought
to be part of New Jersey, Rhode
Island of Connecticut, but it would be
idle to talk about that now. Nevada
should never have been q state, but
at the time of its admission it was
growing very fast and seemed to have
q great future.