The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-07

1t is true, unfortunately, that the
/ first group has as many senators and
votes in the senate as the second; that
less than 100000 people in the first
group have as much voting power in
I that body as nearly 2, 000,000 in the fivs
last named states have. 1t is also true
/ that the power of the ten senators
representing $50, 40S people has been
exercised greedily and selfishly and
wickedly to the very great injury of the
| q, 600, GOO and of almost all Of the peo-
! pie of the old states who granted the
/ prayers of the inhabitants of the terri
tories by admitting them TO the Union.
The silver states have nothing to gain
by inviting attention to their ingrati-
tude and selfishness and to the Excess
sive power which they have been per-
mitted to exercise.
We acknowledge the correctness of
the Times figures. but must condemn
its comments as silly in the extreme.
New York was a state in 1890, but her
population at that time was only 340,-
12O, being less by 1908 than Colorado S
in 1890.
Ohio was admitted in 1902, but her
population in 1900 was only 1886, being
a few hundred less than Nevada's in
1890.
Illinois was admitted in 1918, yet her
population in 1920 was but 55, 1872, about
a fourth of what Utah's was when she
was admitted in 1896.
The five great states were not the
populous and wealthy states when they
started on their career that they are
now The five silver states are very
young and will grow. On this point
there need be no worry
These five silver states have the
same power in the federal senate that
the five great states do because
of the constitution of the Un0.ed
States. And the provision which gives it
was adopted to prevent the larger
states usurping the rights of the small
err ones. 1t is as useful and absolutely
necessary today as it was in 1887. If
it were not for that provision, how
soon would the great states of the east
traanple under foot the rights of the
people of the small western states
merely because they disagree with
them on political issues.
1t is nothing but asinine talk to say
the ten senators from the silver states
have exercised their power ''greedily
and selfshly and wickedly," to the
injury of any one. When some of those
same silver senators exercised their
power against the force bill, the Times
did not consider that they were using
it greedily, selfshly or wickedly. The
same motives that prompted them then
prompted them in their fight for free
silver.
We are sagely and patronizingly in
formed that the silver states have
nothing to gain by inviting attention to
their ingratitude and selfishness and TO
the excessive power which they have
been permitted to exercise"
They are totally unconscious of in
gratitude or selfishness. Surely state
of the American Union is hardly ex-
pected TO be forever doing nothing but
fawn and express gratitude.
Ii they have only been permitted"
to exercise the power they thought was
their right, then of course the power
whence this permission came can recall
it. Where or what it is we do not
know. but we should be glad to have
the Times indicate it. If the rights of
the silver states are only ''permissive,'
then those of the anti-silver states
must be the same. A very great amount
of nonsense is talked about rights of
the states by those who are opposed
to- those rights.