The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-26
PEOPLE
ASK ONLY
JUSTICE
Senator Quay's Arguments for
Statehood.
HAVE SERVED PROBATION
Territories Qualified From
Every Viewpoint.
HAVE SERVED PROBATION

Washington, Dec 25.-The senate cal
endar. just issued, contains the follow
ing argument OF Senator Quay on state
hood for Oklahoma and the other two
territories:
There is no rule OF law or uniform
precedent that determines when a terri
tory may become a stae in the union; but
il has never been questioned that all the
continental territories, with perhaps the
exception of Alaska, were at some time
10 be admitted - the union upon equality
with the other states, and that such =
termination Of territorial existence. which
has been considered as probationary, WAS
il the nature OF a right possessed b the
people of the territories. Political parti-
sanship has played quite a part in the
admission OF some Of the territories
generally with result qgitc opposite to
The calculations Of the party in power
il congress, which sought 60 gain a6van-
1age by such admission. Fortunately po-
litic8l considerations are eliminated from
the discussion OF the bill for the admis-
sion Of the territories Of Oklahoma, New
Mexico ard Arizona as state, as both
The great parties OF the country, in the
platforms Of the last Two national con-
ventioas have declared in favor Of such
legislation.
The case, then. may be decided upon
the merits and the time has come when
the people Of these territories may, As
OF right. ask that the merits of their
claim ror stachood be passed upon by
congress;
!. f,.r
more than half a century; Arizona for
more than a generation. and previous TO
it organization as 4 territory was \
county of New Mexico. No one of the
territories that have been admitted rs
states remained 50 long under territorial
government Even Oklahoma, the last
OF the territories to be organized, has
been "a territory for twelve years If
lapse Of time is essential to qualify a ter
ritory for statehood. those under consid-
Grafton have more than served ont their
probation. Their efforts in the past to
attain this end may not be of much
weight and justice upon the justness and
reasonableness of their claim now. but
those efforts do certainly show the earn
est and persistent striving of the people
citizens IN reality as well as in name.
American citizenship is not enjoyed. in
its fulness in the possession of personal
liberty and the protection of law. Among
fits priceless attributes is the right TO
choose rulers and representatives and
these who make and administer the law.
Undoubtedly the deprivation of The right
IS more keenly felt by the people of the
territories now than ever before. on ac-
count of the late acquisitions OF the
United States beyond the mainland. Ha-
waii has a fun territorial government,
Porto Rico has . governor and other Of
ficers appointed by the president, ana
limited local represe ntation in the legis-
lature Of the islands. a representative in
Washington and United States court.
1t is proposed to give substantially the
sarae form of government to the Philip
pine islands when civil government shall
b. established there
''rhe comparison is not an inviting one
when the newcomers 10 the national fold,
the Hawaiian, the Porto Rican and the
Filipino are placed side by side as To Pc
litical rights with the pioneers of Amer
lean civilization in the great west, those
who were born under the flag and under
its protection have made American homes.
founded American towns and cities. built
school houses and churches and public
buildings. brought the soil to cultivation.
opened the mines. cleared the forests.
and made states in fact if not IN name.
II IS often said that the territories have