The herald., 1894-01-01
The Last of the Territories.

1t is likely that the Fifty-third con-
gress will be rendered noteworthy by
the practical extinction of the territorial
system, saws the San Francisco Exam
iner. The admission of Utah. Arizona,
New Mexico and Oklahoma.as states will
leave only the Indian territory, the Dis
trict of Columbia and Alaska under the
direct control of the national govern
ment. These all bave peculiarities that
put them outside of the ordinary
category of American common
wealths. Leaving them out of consid-
GRAFTON it 10 probable that within two
years-perhaps one year-from now,
the entire extent of the American
union, for the first time since the
adoption of the constitution, will be
divided among sovereign states. There
will be 48 stars in the flag, and this
number is not likely to be exceeded
until Canada asks permission to add
few more.
The territorial system was not directly
provided for in the constitution, but it
has proved an admirable example Of
the American faculty for the invention OF
practical devices to meet political needs.
It was necessary to find way of gov
erning American citizens thinly scat
tered over the national domain, and the
territories were the result. The fact
that the territorial condition has been
recognized as simply preparatory
school for statehood has prevented
the growth of any dangerous feel
ing OF discomfort with the lack
OF complete self-government. Almost
all the states after the original 13 have
passed through it. The only ones that
have missed the experience are Yer
mont, which built itself up in the de-
5stshla land hetween New York and
New Hampshire; Texas, which came
into the Union as full-fedged republic; ;
California, which worked itself from an
archy to statehood with only step-moth-
erly help from the general government,
and West Virginia, which was cut off
from Virginia for war purposes.
The new states will be well fitted to
take their places as equal members of
the union. The smallest OF them,
Oklahoma, is larger than Ireland. Utah
is almost as large as the island of Great
Britain. Arizona is more extensive than
Italy, and New Mexico larger than the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland. Utah probably has quarter
of q million Inhabitants at the pres
ent time. Oklahoma 100000, New
Mexico 175,0OO and Arizona $4,000.
The graduating territories are likely to
witness the most active development in
America during the next two years,
Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. es-
pecially, by their combination of
mineral and agricultural resources and
their facilities for irrigation, will at
tract dense population and produce
immense wealth.
Politically, on the basis Of last years
vote. Utah, Arizona and New Mexico
are Democratic and Oklahoma has
Republican plurality, with the Populists
holding the balance of power. That,
however, is no guide to present condi-
tions. OF the four Oklahoma is most
likely to become permanently
Democratic state, on account of
its proximity to Texas, Arkansas and
Missouri, but the chances everywhere
are so uncertain that the action of the
Democrats in admitting the new states
must be attributed to the belief that
they ought to be admitted, and not to
any confidence that the result will be
party benefit.