The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-01-19
ADMISSION OF THE TERRITORIES

IF the people of Arizona, New Mex
leo and Oklahoma could have their
way" remarks the New York Mail and
Express, there would be three new
states added to the Union. making
the total forty-eight instead of forty
five. This is a laudable ambition"
continues the journal quoted, "but it
does not. follow that it should be hast
lily gratif1ed.''
The Mail and Express then goes on
to show that in population, developed
wealth. area, resources and tie wor-
thiness of the people these territorial
empires are fitted for statehood. 1t is
clear" says the editor, that II
these territories are to be thwarted in
their ambition in this direction lob
tanning statehood), their opponents VIII
have to rely ON some more formidable
objections than those relating to area.
wealth and population. In
all natural respects their eligibility 10
statehood exceeds that of most. if not
all. of the recently admitted states
These admissions concerning the ter
ritories ambitious of obtaining state
hood would lead one to think that the
Mail and EXPRESS would conclude its
article by recommending that the
gates of TIE Union be thrown Wlde
open for Arizona. New Mexico ana
Oklahorna-but not so. We should not
forget that we are reading the words
and following the logic of Republican
journal of the most pronounced single
standard persuasion, and that fact
ought to prepare us to bid eternal
farewell to right conclusions in the
summing UP of almost any proposition
bearing on political questions.
After admitting that the territories
named have the necessary qualifica-
tfons for statehood, this Republican
journal says:
But there are other considerations
which are worthy Of attention in dis
cussing so important question. one.
of the principal objections to an imme-
dlarte admission of these territories is
that it would increase by six votes the
free coinage contingent in the senate.
to say nothing of the three full-fedged
congressman of the same stripe. This
is a serious reflection, and, in view OF
the present pernicious activity and in
f1uence of the free silver senators, 1t
is sufficient to call for great caution
and elaboration in the determination
of this proposition. 1t is a well-knoWn
fact that the free silver strength would
today be unimportant but for the
twelve added senatorial votes by the
recent admission of North and South
Dakota, Wyoming. Montana. Idaho and
Utah. 1t behooves us to go slow in this
matter.
There is something in those remarks
which sounds familiar. We can't say
that it arises from any particular
words, but there is a familiarity in the
spirit Of the remarks that comes back
to us in Utah like the ever recurring
burden of a half forgotten song. The
complaint with which we were met in
Utah was not our adherence to silver,
but it was because Republicans
thought our Democracy here in Utah
was too intense That is the reason
that some alleged for the door Of state
hood beirg so persistently shut in
TTtab's face Now this stalwart Re-
publican journal, true to that Republi-
can spirit. would shut the door of
statehood in the face of three empire
territories because their people from
the standpoint of this Republican jour
nal don't happen to entertain right
views on the financial question ''It
behooves us to go slow in this matter"
That means that because of the opin-
ions of the people on the silver ques-
ton in the territories named, they
must be kept in territorial vassalage!
That doctrine is infamous, and de-
serves execration There is neither
righteousness, honor, patriotism, broad
mindedness, craftsmanship or any
other quality that can be admired in
If. It is absolutely bad. 1t is utterly
to be condemned. 1t is a policy that
proclaims the narrow partisan, the
scheming politician, and not the states
man.
Let the three territories be admitted
as soon as possible Let US be rid as
quickly as we can Of the territorial
system of government. 1t violates the
spirit of the American system of gov
eminent; and continued beyond the
time when a community has all the
qualifications for full local self-gov-
eminent, it becomes positively oppres-