Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1896-04-22
ARIZONA JOURNAL-MINER
WEDNESDAY...-..APRIL 22, 1896
THE ISSUE OF STATEHOOD.

On general principles, says the San Francisco Chronicle, Arizona and New Mexico ought to be prompt ly admitted 10 the union as states. To keep them out any longer when they have a resident population and the means and ability to govern themselves, to secure order and pro mote justice, is distinctly un-Amerl- can. No doubt the territorial status is the best for districts which are unsettled and where the direct con trol of the federal power Is needed in the defense of liia and property, but Arizona and New Mexico are no longer in these relations. They have gone far beyond them. They are not now the mere camping places and prospecting grounds of nomadic bands of white and red men, the haunts of desperadoes and savages, hut civilized commouwealths occu- pied by cities. towns and farms which have the usual adjunctS of courts, schools, colleges, churches, railroads, telegraphs, postofices, newspapers and trade. Population IS Perma- nent and it has the benefit of legitl- mate and steady growth. Revenues are large. In neither territory IS federal oversight required except as to the Indians and these can be guarded within state lines ss readily as within the present boundaries.
 These being the facts about Ari- zona and New Mexico why should they be kept out of the union and their people deprived of the rights of equal citizenship We are well aware that the plea is made that neither territory has large popu- lstion, but since when has such tos; of statehood been either prac- ticable or decisivei Rhode Island and Delaware are both small and have populations likely to be eA- Ct Ied at an early day by that of New Mexico. Nevada was admitted to the union when there were less than 1900 people within it's bord- CTS. Wyoming is a state, yet its population at the last census was 6O.TN5. Arizona at the same time ha5 59,62O, and New Mexico l53,593.
 The only other objection heard Is that the public sentiment of Arlzo- na aud New Mexico stands for silver coinage and that the admission of these territories as states would add to the voting strength of the friends of the white metal in congress. But this is not 6 plea which should have weight with any American. Are not differences of opinion about politics to be tolerated in this republici Are communities to be even partially disfrauchised because they exercise freedom of choice among the issues of the dsyi Is this free country or a plantation with an overseeri It is travesty on the principles of constitutional government to deny the minority the right of rePresen- tationi But that is precisely what the proposal amounts to to keep Arizona and New Mexico from hay ing voice in the senate and house in the latter of which they are now permitted only to be seen and not heard-upon themes suggested by their own and the national politics. They are parts and parcels of free America and they are qualified by every moral right to elect their own Governors and to take part in the councils of the nation tD which they belong and for the maintenance of which they are taxed.
 That these views are not without strong support in congress IS seen in the fact that, on Tuesday the Ari- zona Statehood bill was fsvorsbly passed upon by the house committee on territories. As yet the New sfexico bill IS held in abeyance, though if one succeeds the other ought to. Both are right and just. Both are American. We do not be- lieye that either will fail of passage fl once they are fairly presented and discussed in a republican congress