Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-26

When the northwestern territories sought
admission to the Union as states the demo-
cratic party made the mistake of resisting
all these applications indiscriminateiy, and
imputed to the republicans a purpose to
create rotten borough states for partisan
purposes. The effect Of this partisan oppo-
sition to the aspirations Of communities,
which In certain cases had a greater per-
manent population than the average num-
Der of persons represented by each member
Of the House of Representatives, was to
prejudice that whole section against the
democratic party and to counterfeit for a
long time the tendency toward the demo-
cratic position on the tariff ISSUE which
had grown strong in these interior agricul-
tural communities. Now the positions are
reversed The southern territories are seek
ing statehood, and the temptation to the re-
publican party Is to oppose Unfortunately
on partisan grounds. alleging partisan mo-
tives in the democrats who favor admission.
1t Is unfortunate that in both cases par
tisanship could not be set aside. and some
general policy ard method of treatment sys-
Dramatically applied to the aspiring territor-
les. On the one hand, 1t is unwise for the
republic to retain It's colonies in the colonial
state beyond the moment when they become
lifted to be states. On the other hand, a
community prematurely admitted to state
hood. either lacking the necessary popula-
ton or lacking the resources and capacity
for growth which will give 1t an assured
standing among the states is an injury and
discredit to the whole family OF common
wealths. When a section Of the territory
OF the United States OF reasonably restrict
ed area has permanent American popula-
ton Of average intelligence and morality
Inns mr. ha ohAa 80
some 15O,OO0-represented by each member
Of the House Of Representatives. and this
section also Possesses varied natural re-
sources. which give reasonable promise that
this population will not merely be retained
but grow with the republics average
growth, then this section should be prompt
ly admitted to statehood But we want no
more Nevadas. 1t Is very difficult for Con-
gress to pursue the safe. middle course in
this matter, avoiding at once the ScyIIa of
which existing Nevada gives warning, and
the Charybdis of repression OF American
aspirations to full citizenship with the DO
Ntical hostility and prejudice thereby arous-
ed. 1t would clearly be Of notable benent
to the republic to abolish the reproach of
existing Nevada by consolidating this state
and Utah. But in view Of the political con-
alterations which have been suggested 1t is
hardly likely that this consolidation will be
effected. The probabilities are that the ter
rttorfes now seeking statehood will be soon
admitted. as the northwestern territories
were, substantially in the manner which
they themselves suggest, and that the re-
public will be compelled to take its chances
OF one or more of the new states going to
the bad after the Nevada fashion, Just as 1t
took similar chances in respect to at least
one of the new states carved from north
western territory. Partisanship is mighty
and Is apt to prevail