The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-08
An orpant Gro,s Ignorance.


one Of the most remarkable displays
Of ignorance OF our system of govern
ment Of territories that has ever ap-
peared in a newspaper published in an
enlightened community Is contained In
the following editorial paragraph in
the Register:
A Hawaiian paper, claiming TO have In
formation as to the conclusions reached by
the Hawaiian commission, says Hawaii
VIII be made territory, without change Of
name, and win be allowed q representa-
tive in Congress, with q legislature for
making local laws. This tends TO show
substantial grounds for the fears express
cd Us to the meaning Of annexation. This
half-nnked, half-9avage, estwhile cnnnibal
population OF these islands Of the South Sea
1000 miles from our western shore, may be
In position TO decide the most important
question before Congress through the vote
q ita representative, or decide a presiden-
tinl election by the vote Of its people. who
are utterly allen TO us and our Institutions.
The assertion contained In the last
sentence OF chs paragraph. as some
thing which furnishes "substantlal
grounds for fears expressed as to the
meaning Of annexation" must have
caused theb boys and girls in the primary
departments of the public schools to
smile. They probably all know. II the
Register does not, that che organs
fears" are grOundless, since the repre-
sentative OF territory4n Congress has
no vote. His privileges are confined
wholly to a right To take part In de-
bates, present petitions in the interests
Of the territory. &c, Only the represent
tatives of states have votes.
These school children also know, II the
Register does not, that the people of
territory cannot decide a presidential
election" for they have no voice in ma
tional elections. nor are they represented
in the United States senate. In order to
quiet the fears which loom UP before the
Mortified eyes of our contemporary. it
may be well to quote the law concerning
representations of territory at Wash
ington. The statute says:
every Territory shall have the right to
send q delegate to the house Of Representa-
tiVes Of the United States, to serve during
voters in the territory QUALIFIED to
elect members Of the legislative assembly
thereof. Every such DELICATE shall
have seat In the house OF representa-
tlyes, with the right OF debating, BUT
NOT OF VOTING"
Moreover. the governors Of territories
are appointed by the President Of the
United States, and all laws passed by
the legislative assembly must be sub
mitted to Congress for its approval
They must be in accordance with the
constitution of the United States.
The Register need have no Tears"
that "half-naked. half savage, erstwhile
cannIbal" people viii dictate our presl-
DENTAL election or participate in our
Legislation. At the time the law pro-
vlding for the government of the terri
tories was passed, the greater part of
what Is now the United States was In
cluded in the territories. the one quoted
being passed in 1917. when we had no
states, only territories. west of GER
tain line. Other provisions noted were
made laws at later periods. The whole
western country was then peopled by
"savages," some Of whom were half
naked" Was it possible for them to
decide a presidential electon?" Is it
possible now for New Mexico or Okla
homa, or Indian Territory to do so? The
Register must find some other argu-
ment
In all territories Indians not civilized
and bona fide citizens have not had a
voice in the elections. II our contem-
porary sticks to its objections to annex
alton of Hawaii, on the line above noted,
it will continue to demonstrate most
lamentable lack of knowledge of the
governmental system as applied to TER
ritorles by this government. Should
Hawaii become a state 1t will only be
after IT can comply with the terms of
the constitution,