The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-10-02

7 uia aindItmtul dl the existence OF
such conditions, in the boasted land
OF liberty, Is succeeded by equal aston
ishment that self respecting. educated
and intelligent American citizens
should submit. even ~ the briefest
time, to such tyranny and imposition.
Then hec comes to understand how
The system directly tends to perpet.
uate itself, by paralyzing independ-
ence of thought and action in those
who should be the leaders of the peo-
pie. becauae the least show of inde
pendence is fatal to ambition. Then,
add to this the fear and servinty
that so many private citizens prac-
tice toward officials high or low
Then. add to this the marvellous and
OK like patience, with which the many
submit to the exactions of the few
Then consider the fact, so plainly
taught by the history of reform. that
the attempt 10 save the people, from
the evils under which they suffer, al
ways involves the discouraging fact
that they must be saved, largely, in
spite of themselves. SConsider all
these things and you will understand
how it is that whe nonce such condi
tions. as have described become
established. these conditions will con
tinue and now next to impossible It
would be to cnange them.
Not less strange is the fact that,
despite all these drawbacks, the terri
tories are mighty prosperous. But
let it be understood, that this fact can
not. by any logical legerdemain, be
twisted into an argument in favor OF
present conditions. 1t exists in spite
Of these conditions, and is solely due
to the multiplied and mighty resources
o. the land and the industry and en-
terprise of the people Great deposits
of gold, silver, lead and copper
sowa. in the mountains, by natures
lavish hand, mighty. unbroken for
ests; great capabilities of the soil
that, at the magic touch of the irri-
eating stream blossoms into the
beauty Of grass and grain and flower
and foliage and fruit, one acre pro
ducing as much as five in the east;
these are the causes tnat account for
existing prosperity. despite unfayor.
able conditions of government. That
the precent prosperity is only an
earnest of what would reward the toll
er under proper forms of government
is made certain and placed beyond,
by the fact, repeated over and over,
that the escape of theirs from the pa
relysis Of territorial government has
been signalized always by an immed-
, late and marked increase of material
prosperity.
Just and equal laws and honest ad
ministration of government and the
freedom and. independence Of the peo
pie constitute the greatest spur tt
I prosperity. And these we have no
and will never have, so long as We
are NuinSu Win tlilo dubhidig diuphb0 ~
American institutions, whe nappleC
to country and people like ours
and which was never intended by
I the fathers for anything but the mos
| temporary and rude conditions.
| Wherefore, give us statehood. Give
= as home rule. Give us the right o
self government Give US the com
mon heritage of all American citizens
the right to participate fully and free
ly in the government our father
bought with the blood Of a hundre'
battle fields Let the burning dis
grace Of 10000 American citizens
oIsinherited and despoiled Of thei
clear constitutional rights. cease L
longer shame the American natioi
and name, Jas. w. MeCormick..