The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1907-09-05

The Oklahoma constitution further
recognizes Federal rights by disclaim
ing any right to public or Indian lands
and declaring that property of the
United States shall not be taxable.
in section 8 by providing for prohi-
hition in the Indian Territory in sec
tion Z BY again declaring the proper
~ of the United States not taxable,
together with such other property as
may be exempt from taxation under
any treaty or law Of the United States.
in section OF article 10 on Revenue
and Taxation and all officers are
required to take an oath to support
the constitution Of the United States,
and the constitution expressly ac.
cepts the provisions of the Enabling
Act
Under the head of Federal Rela-
tions are also embraced provisions
relating 10 other matters. Religious
tolerance is secured In section 3 In
this section. also, polygamOus mar
rlages are forever prohibited. In sec
tion is Inserted clause prohibiting
the taxation OF land belonging TO citi-
zens residing iu, other states at a
higher rate than that imposed on
lands of resident owners. Also. in
section the debts OF the Territory of
! Oklahoma are assumed by the new
state in Hectiun the legislature is
required 20 provide for a common
school system, and In section 6 the
state is forbidden 10 abridge by law
The right OF sunrsee On account Of
race. color or previous condition OF
L.. aIu he
/ probably covered BY the declaration
that the constitydon Of the United
States is the supreme law of the land,
bit whether s}ch clause were in
the Oklahsina constitution or not
would be immaterial for the consti-
tuition of the United States would be
sufficient for It's own enforcement.
All OF these subjects are badly arraag-
ed and should be placed under other
heads OF the constitution.
All Of the foregoing provisions are
usual and ordinary in state cOnstitu-
tions with the exception Of the prohi'
/ btion of The liquor traffic In the In
/ dian Territory Such provision was
never before imposed on new state
as a condition of It's admission But
while the Federal Government may IN
this manner impose its viii upon the
new state ia the beginning It cannot
prevent the people from wiplng that
provision out Of their constitution
when statehood Is once secured. For
\ every state COMES into She Union up
ON an equal footing With every other
state. and the constitution whatever
n may contain, is subject TO amend
meut at the pleasure of the people
In the manner provided in the con.
stitGtion itself Statehood implies a
radical change In the relations of the
/ people towards the Federal Govern
ment From the 0ccupers of soil be.
longing TO the United States in its
lnati0nab entity and subject 10 direct
legislation by CONGRESS In an their
internal concerns. they will have
thrown around them the sacred circle
OF state sovereignty subject only TO
the enumerated exceptions. From q
state of tutelage they viii pass to an
Independent maj0rity-from a limi-
ted and MANNED citizenship 10 a full
aud perfected one. Yet from Con
gress. which is but the viii OF all the
other states expressed in the Nation
Nl AN-iniHNNAEt ANiuNa tAN bANdN kAAA VI
statehood 20 Oklahoma For Terri
tories have no legal right TO statehood
but simply the legal right to accept
statehood when the Federal Govern
ment Offers II TO ;hem Only the ori
gilai thirteen states. after the Decla
ration OF independence. possessed
complete and absolute sovereignty un
tl the Federal Government was ere
] ated After that ail of the new do
main became the property OF the new
nation ANA subject absolutely 10 is
regulation. government and disposal
Even now Congress- could ~ it so
wiled repeal 0Br enabling act and
sch us bodily to a foreign power
II Therefore should Oklahoma look upon
the Nation with an afectioHate eye
and h should be inspired With graft
tnde TO all of her sister states who
by aheiv votes in Congress endowed
the inhabitants OF lands but SO ro
Gently a virgin wilderness With the
Il power and dignity of young empire
equal under the law. with the Oldest
and proeldest stale whose sous Roi
the heritage oi liperi2 for an Of ps