Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-06-13
APPLYING FOR STATEHOOD.


Before the bill for the admission to
the MO as states OF the territories of
oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico
was assed by the house of representa-
tives, a fortnight ago. Marcus A. Smith.
delegate from Arizona, made a strong
speech in favor of the earnest wishes
OF his W constituents, says the Provi-
dence, r. l., Journal. His arguments,
with slight changes. apply as well to
the other territories mentioned. Dur
ing his term of service he has seen
Washington. Montana. North and
South Dakota. Idaho, Wyoming and
Utah all become states of the union,
and the same privilege again and again
denied to Arizona. He insisted that
the opposition to the present bill is due
principally to party politics, and that
as far as population, enlightenment
n general prosperity are concerned
there is no reasonable excuse for deny
ing statehood to his territory, for its
people are as well fitted to fulfill the
duties which would devolve on them
as those of any other part of the coun-
try, an assertion that most of us IN
not accept as true. His picture of the
injuries which the interests of a terri
tory suffer under the rule of congress
was a, telling one. He concluded by
saying: They do not present them
selves as su~pplicants, nor do they bear
themselves with arrogance or preSump-
ton. They come as free American
citizens. by treaty. by adoption and by
birth. and ask that they may be per-
mitted to reap the common benefits,
share the common ills and promote the
common welfare as one of the United
States of America"
Incidentally, he took occasion to
comment on the low standard of ethics
manifested by that shining eXemplar of
cheap politics, General G%rosvenor. of
Ohio, who-had spoken in opposition to
the bill, saying, among other things:
Yes, / knew General Grosvenor was to
speak against this bill. He could not
help it without hurting his record. He
is consistent above all things. He pre-
serves consistency by being always
wrong, and an eel temper by being
always mad
1t Is a fact, and one to be regretted,
that of late the prevailing motive for
admitting territories to full statehood
in the union has been the wish of the
dominant party TO increase the num-
Der of votes which it could command in
the senate and the house of representa-
tives. This. of course. to such narrow
minded partisans as General Gros-
venor is an entirely sufficient reason
and one thoroughly deserving of COM
m%endation. For them the doctrine, so
dear to their hearts, that to the victors
belong the spoils means that the van
pushed have no rights which need to
be considered. Such a view. ii need
hardly be said, is not accepted by the
right-minded people of the country.
The inhabitants OF the territories are
citizens of the United States, and these
territories are entitled to he made
states when a certain condition Of
affairs in them is reached. To refuse
them admission to the union, then, is
to withhold from them a right and not
merely TO decline TO grant them a
favor 1t is the duty of congress,
therefore. TO inquire into such matters
fully and carefully and to decide the
. case altogether on its merits without
any regard to any political advantages
which this or that party may gain, A
decision thus arrived at, vel If un-
favorable TO the wishes OF a COM
munity, would do away with the sense
of injustice and the sting felt when
ignorance of the true conditions is
plainly manifest or these conditions
are openly d~isregarded tor partisan
purposes. The hi. for the admission
of these three territories passed the
house of representatives. In the case
of Oklahoma the reasons for making it
a state seem TO be good, but with Arl-
iona and New Mexico doubts are more
apparent and a further delay may he
advisable.