Show THE EIGHTS OF TERRITORIES Those who suppose that the action of Arizona Idaho Wyoming and New Mexico in proceeding toward statohood without the assistance advantage of an enabling act by Congress is a new thing are perhaps per-haps only students of current history or It may be of no history at all And then number is not so very slight either At or about the time that the firstnamed through a prominent citizen inquired of Attorney General MILLER i such proceed ing on the part of said territory would be deemed lawful and receive recognition THE HERALD pronounced such inquiry useless use-less if not absurd not because of thinking Mr MILLER a rather indifferent lawyer as to national affairs on anything of that kind but because of the indisputable primary prim-ary fact that any body of people have the right to peacefully assemble and peti tion Congress for a redress or grievances and surely the peaceful and dignified movement move-ment of a territory in thadirection oLstate hood cannot be regarded in any other light than that of a petition for the redress of a grievance I I However as suggested this is but a primary pri-mary reason There are an abundance of I others notable among which are a line of I honorable and successful precedents I I might be said that California thrust herself I her-self into the union and going back still further fur-ther we select a sample of that great and I thrifty commonwealth Kentucky I is 1 claimed that in historical significance the I admission of Kentucky was an event I second only in importance t the adoption of the federal constitution It was the first of the large western states t assume self control and apply for admission as a 1 state Politically and commercially the i influence of this proceeding was at once I perceptible This was in 1792 and the papers of that state are already clamoring for the proper observance of the centenary I The CourierJournal says that the event should be celebrated in a manner worthy of the state and that Louisville could do no more appropriate thing than to dedicate to the past and t the future in 1S92 a building build-ing large and comprehensive which would include an art gallery a library a public auditorium and schools both for the arts and sciences Such a building it continues should be a historical monument should commemorate the deeds of the founders of Kentucky and it should provide for the perpetuation of their memories for another century by means of art and education The occasion and the opportunity meet for it thinks that under proper management they could easily carry out this suggestion Undoubtedly the occasion should be commemorated com-memorated and of course the metropolis of Kentucky is the proper place for such commemoration com-memoration The same authority says The people of Louisville recognize the importance im-portance of such a building the necessity for a hall devoted not t profit merely but to public uses that might take the place in Louisville in the future occupied by the Fanueil hall in Boston in the past I in addition t that we could secure a great historical library enlarge and extend the polytechnic library reorganize the art gallery gal-lery establish industrial and art schools and adorn the buildings with historical portraits and statues we will have a monument monu-ment surpassed no city in the country To all of which THE HERALD contributes its concurrence Any kind of memorial that may be adopted will be useful in more ways than merely marking an event I will be a standing reminder of the fact that communities commu-nities when united do not have t rely upon the parent government in this country The individual being free and independent and necessarily the foundation of the commonwealth com-monwealth it follows that the latter must be like unto him This is the theory of our government and everything subversive of it is revolutionary and should be treated as such Even the talk of a strong paternal or cautral government at Washington or elsewhere ought to be sternly frowned down We arc aware that pursuing this ligitimato and vital doctrine a little further than was deemed consistent with national unity came very near being its destruction a quarter of a century ago and that those who actuated by a patriotic purpose because possessed too much zeal were brought under the ban of the powers that won and have since had to endure the stigma of traitors whereas in fact they were simply pursuing a course which our magna charta and the spirit of our institutions institu-tions not only permitted but justified Any territory has a right to form a constitution con-stitution of course and not only without sttuton the consent but even vith the disapproval of the national lawmakers so long as it is not put in the shape of a formal statute Of course also the work thus accomplished will be unavailing without the territorys friends in both houses of Congress should when the document Is presented be in a majoritya twothirds majority unless the President should also be friendly t the movement The fact that such procedure pro-cedure does not always Win is not specially significant oftener than otherwise the failure is because the work has been engineed by those whose only object is selfaggrandisement and who hope to accomplish more for themselves their relatives and immediate friends by means of statehood than is possible in a territorial terri-torial condition Congress does not always perform bright or especially able work but it is nearly always able to so through a thin veneering of patriotism when there is a sinister purpose behiridlt Let pretenders pre-tenders whose only ability is borrowed and whose highest conception of a public duty is a private gain stand aside or better still step out altogether when there is a movement on hand looking to tho emancipation emanci-pation of a territory Otherwise there is not much chance no matter how favorable the conditions generally may bo |