The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-04-22
rHE STATEHOOD euEsTIoN.

Our Democratic friends need be in
no great concern over the new attempt
to make Republican capital out of the
delay in the Utah statehood bill
Neither should they take any stock in
the stories which are revamped about
Republican anxiety to hasten the event
That is all party buncombe. 1t may
give some pleasure to a certain class
OF Republicans who think anything and
everything thing is justified by the fact
that its politics" but Democrats who
have arrived at years of maturity
should pay no attention to ii.
The Herald does not pretend that the
course taken at the last election in
this city, for a member of the legisla-
ture, has had no effect upon senatorial
action as to the statehood bill. That
would be at variance with what we
said before the election. We then told
the voters of this city what would be
the probable consequence of their fail
ure to support the Democratic candi-
date. and the result has justified all we
predicted.
Our friends the enemy should not
jump to the front and assume a virtue
that everybody knows they do not pos
sess, by railing against party motives
and praising political dfsinterestedness.
The Republican party was never known
TO do anything, under any circum-
stances, which promised to be detri-
mental to party interests. No territory
ever had the ghost of chance to be-
come a state under Republican aus
pieces, which did not give evidence that
there was at least possibility that it
might be led by the Republican string.
If the Democratic Senate perceives.
from the course pursued in Utah, that
immediate statehood would be the
means of disturbing the political COM
position of that body, of endangering
the present majority, of hindering the
legislation to which the party is
pledged. and of transferring this COM
monwealth from its Ions understood
position to the ranks of the enemy,
Icandidly, will any sane and wise man
of either party say. that the Senate is
not sensible in waiting little before
taking the step that may bring about
such results?
We do not assert that this considera-
ton is the cause of delay. There may
be and doubtless are other reasons why
the bill is not rushed towards its pas
sage. But we do say that such rea-
son would not be remarkable nor would
it be mark of political unwisdom.
And we affirm, unhesitatingly, that if
the Republican party confronted such
a position. Utah might remain out in
the cold till it was frozen stiff before
that party would hasten to let her in.
But after all, this does not argue that
the Utah bin will not pass the present
session of Congress. The Democra tic
party will not lose the prestige of bring
ing Utah into the Union. 1t has been
the one power which has prevented the
destruction of the territory, and which
has defended its people when it could
do so consistently. If there is any hesI-
tation just now, that is not to be Won
dered at under the circumstances. And
we must remember that the great i'm
portance which attaches to this ques-
ton in our minds does not loom up SC
big in the eyes of men legislating for
this entire and magnificent country
with its vast and varied interests.
The bill will not be allowed to slum-
Der in committee as long as some folks
predict. neither will it be brought forth
in active haste through any pretended
Republican exertions. The political
fate of Utah is in Democratic hands
thank fortune. and the Democratic
party win take her into the Union as
free and sovereign state. Republican
pretended desire for Utahs welfare
comes too late to deceive sensible peo-
pie, and eleventh hour repentance Of
Utah's persistent enemy is not of the
kind that will bring it political saliva
ton.