The herald., 1896-02-29
ARIZONA KNOCKING HARD

Hon. Nathan o. Murphy, Arizona's
delegate in the houee Of representa-
tives, has been expressing himself,
through the medium of an interview in
the New York Tribune, in a most san
guine manner regarding the prospects
of his territory's admission to the sis
terhood of states. The ex-governor is
convinced that before long there will
be favorable report by the committee
on territories, not only in regard to Ar
izona, but also in reference to the
claims of New Mexico and Oklahoma.
He thinks that Arizona possesses every
qualification for admission to the union
and that her case should be considered
on its merits.
Mr.. Murphy is most emphatically
correct in his view that the question OF
admitting Arizona should be debated
and decided according to its merits
and without ssference to the political
effects that might be produced by her
admission. II Arizona is entitled to
admission on the same score that other
states have entered the Union, she
should be let in, no matter what the
result might be to the Democratic, the
Republican, the Populist or any other
political party-not even excepting the
Prohibitionists. The political party
that can only retain control by depriv-
ing some part of the people of some
thing to which they are justly entitled,
deserves to be kept out of power, and
will be in the end, for lasting power
can rest only on exact justice. There
is no more reason for keeping Arizona
out of the Union, If she is fitted for
statehood, than there would be for
ejscting from the Union q state quail.
iied to remain in. The Democratic
party, least of all, with it's cardinal
principle that "the right to govern rests
upon the consent of the governed"
can afford to oppose the grant
of self-governing powers to any
division of the people qualified to en-
joy them.
The silver sentiment thatseems to
predominant in Arizona happens to be
obnoxious to majority of the people
of the United States. consequently the
contest OF the territory for place in
the family has been handicapped.
While, as has been intimsted, the po-
sition of Arizona on any particular is
sue has nothing to do with the merits
of her plea for statehood, it is never
theless fact that her position on the
silver question has disinclined the peo-
pie of the east to give that plea fair
consideration. As matter Of fact,
however, the silverism of Arizona is
not as dangerous at this time as some
of the eastern states seem to believe.
As Mr.. Murphy explains, the admission
Of Arizona by this congress could not
in any way strengthen at the present
the forces of the silverites. Before the
territory could possibly assume its
station in the federation, new presi-
dent and congress would have been
selected. There is little doubt about
the next president, whether Democrat
or Republican, being opposed to the
program of the free silver men, 30 that
at least for five years Arizona as state
could prove of no practical value to
the silver cause.
AS to the merits of Arizona's claims,
people may honestly differ, but every
reasonable person will have to admit
that she makes a good showing. Her
population, according to the census of
1890, was at that time in round figures
10000, or about $4,000 more than that
then credited to the state of Nevada.
1t is undoubtedly now nearer 100000,
the territory having received large ac-
cessions of people during the last five
years. The increase of population be-
tween 1880 and 1890 amounted to IT
per cent, and it is certain that greater
proportion of gain will be shown to
have taken place between 1890 and
1900. In the same time that the inhab-
itants of Arizona increased AZ per
cent, those of Nevada decreased more
than 26 per cent. The area of the ter
ritory is 10000 square miles and is
larger than that Of Rhode Island, Del
aware, Connecticut, New Jersey, Mas
sachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Maryland, West Virginia and the
Carolinas combined. The industrial
prospects of the territory are bound
less because her resources are of that
character. Capital is rapidly develop
ing the possibilities of those resources.
The idea that some may hold that Ari-
zona is fitted only for an aggregation
of mining camps is decidedly mistaken.
While, of course, she is rich in mineral
endowments it will not be many years
before she is known more widely for
other than mineral productions. Agri-
culture, horticulture and forestry will
give her fame. She has the largest vir-
gin forest Of any state or territory be-
tween the Canadian line and the Mexi-
can border; it is estimated that her
forestry resources represent 10000 00O,-
OlO s. <xpe an xn The