New-York tribune., 1907-11-18
oKLAHouA's coNDEsCENS1oN.

Oklahoma enters into the United States as if
she were convinced that she was getting into
! rather bad company, but felt that by holding
her head high she could escape the usual result
of evil communications. Last week the country
was mildly amused TO learn that the newly
| elected Governor would not ride to his inau-
| guration in the same vehicle with the outgoing
! appointive Governor. 1t was supposed that
this exhibition of dignity was due TO some per
! sOnai sentiment or perhaps a survival of
the recent election, for in new states partisan
ship is taken with infinite seriousness; but now
| it seems more likely that Ex-Governor FrantZ
was scorned as the embodiment and representa-
| tive of federal authority.
| At least, it was in this mood that Governor
/ Haskell made his inaugural address. He said :
! We are not assembled here to worship the
| public officer who ultimately conceded us our
/ rights, particularly when we reflect that long
ago, from every standpoint Of population,
| wealth and intelligence, this entitled
! TO all the blessings and privileges of statehood (;
and now to thank the public officers in over
gracious terms who have finally performed a
long and unjusty deferred duty would be in the
nature of hugging the feet of a dilatory debtor
who finally pays his just Indebtedness.
At first blush it might seem rs If the new
| Governor had President Roosevelt in mind in
this breezy defiance of everything federal, but
he changes from public officer to public
going to be worshipped or thanked il over
gracious terms. But we are sure Congress and
the rest of the nation will overlook the lofty
consequential and somewhat ungentle manners
of the newcomer in the general gladness to get
her in on any terms. Have not Mr.. Bryan and
we believe other competent authorities declared
that the new state has the most perfect con-
stitutiOn on earth? And isn't that enough 10
turn the head and spoil the manners of the
the Union? The most perfect constitution on
earth! How pognanty must oklahoma feel
that the eyes of the nation are upon her, and
how bissful must be her consciousness that the
rest of the states covet her wonderful funda-
mental law. Compare this paragon with the
thirteen original states and their "Ole cloes'
constitutions of the style of a century ago,
some of them patched up to date and some of
them without a vestige of repairs for half
century Even enlightened Western communi-
ties are put to the blush by the newness and
perfection of Oklahomas equipment. No won
der she feels as if she We're condescendng into
the Union. Probably she is cheered however,
with hopes that by going down into company
that is not made up of her equals she can in
spire them by her influence and example to bet
! ter things. She will do sort of settlement
work among the states. Or. TO change the
metaphor, she feels like Il newly elected Con-
gresham who has been pronounced by the local
editor TO be greater than Hamilton and Web
ster combined. He reads up on all the defects
of Congress due 10 its lack of great men, and
with conscious pride reflects that when his
presence irradiates the legislative halls and his
voice echoes through the chambers of dead elo-
! quence their prestige will be restored and Con
gress will be the parliament of the world Such
dreams die young and we fear the system will
be too much for Oklahoma. Having conde
scended into this association she will soon be no
better than the rest of us