Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-07
ADMITTING TERRITORIES.

ADMITTING TERRITORIES.
49, "o.io- cf +ha Se~ate Committee on
Territories. touching the question OF the
admission of Oklahoma. Arizona. and
New Mexico into the sisterhood of States
was about as rankly and neXcusably
partisan as anything could we'll be. Both
the great political parties of the country
in the platforms of their last national
conventions declared in favor of the
admission OF all three. and some months
ago. the House of Representatives passed
a bill to carry out that policy Wednesday
last however. the Senate Committee on
Territories reported in favor Of taking In
Oklahoma alone-or rather in favor OF
taking in only that territory with Indian
Territory tackled on to it.
That the influences which sWayed the
committee in ignoring the claims OF Ari-
IONA and New Mexico were entirely parti-
sar and political is generally recognized
Okla homa. it is conceued. is regarded as
safely Republican and even the Wash
inCton correspondent of the New York
Tribune does not hesitate to say that the
Republicans on the Senate Committee.
with the exception of Mr.. Quay. appar-
entity believe that New Mexico and Ari-
iona ARE naturally Democratic In their
lcanings.''
The action Of the Senate Committee
only renders more manifest the fact that
has developed in our later history that
the Republican party looks upon the
enlargement OF the sisterhood solely from
the viewpoint Of partisanry and what it
will profit that party. The theory Of
the party is that Territories have
no right to enter the Union unless their
entrance will contribute to strengthen
ing the Republican grip on power. ana
perpetuatine its domination. In the eat
Her days Of the republic the admission OF
territories turned largely upon the slavery
issue. as witness the Missouri compro-
mise and the Kansas Nebraska bill. The
great conflicts that arose respecting the
erection OF new States were in sense
conflicts between two civilizations and
the two sections. They involved the
ma int enance of the .alance of power be-
tween the slave and the free States
and so long as ii could be done free and
slave States We're admitted in couples
played one against the other.
Whether this was a necessity OF the
situation or not at this distance from the
time and events II cannot but be appre-
ciated that II was the logical political
outcome of it. But with the elimination
OF the slavery issue disappeared all rea-
son for basing admission of territories
upon anything but their general fitness
for Statehood. The Republican party.
however. ignored this and brought the
san politics and greed. 1t is not denied
that Nevada. Colorado. the Dakotas
Montana. Idaho Washington. Wyoming.
and Utah would never have been received
into the sisterhood had 1t not been con-
tidentlv believed that they would be per
manently Republican.
The repor, of the Senate committee Is
simply in consonance with the marrow.
partisan. sordid policy the dominant
rarity has been pursuing as to this mat
ter for forty years 1t is notice that no
territory need knock at the door Of the
sisterhood unless it is prepared to give
pretty good guarantee that it will chain
itself to the Republican car.
The opening of the discussion on the
report is set FOR Wednesday next and it is
said that Senator Quay will join the
Democrats In fighting for the admission
OF Arizona and New Mexico also More
ever. il is stated tina; he has elected the
support of Senator Elkins in his 'defec-
ton and ''recalcitrance." Already the
motives of these two Republican senators
are being impugned in Republican leader
circles and by Republican papers OF the
baser sort. especially the motives Of
Quay. The suggestion OF the Tribune
correspondent as an excuse for the Penn
sylvania senator-and the suggestion is
not co.npiimentary-that he does not be-
lieve Arizona and New Mexico have
Democratic leaniTgs. is not accepted by
those who advocate perpetuation Of Re-
publican domination by any means pos
and with a COOL deal Of bitterness. not to
say venom-that he is actuated by per-
sonal reasons not at all creditable to him.
Also Senator Elkins is being assailed as
being animated by personal considera-
lions not the most commen6ablc We do
rot admire the records and methods OF
either Quay or Elkins. but whatever their
motives In this matter on the face OF
things they occupy an attitude which is a
rebuke to the whole course Of their party
for years. In dealing with the admission