| Show STATEHOOD PROPOSALS the project by which oklahoma and indian territory and arizona and new mexico have been tied together in proposals for statehood has we think small justification either in political justice or in common bense oklahoma deserves to bo erected into a state by itself it has a population in excess of that 0 the states of oregon montana delaware rhode island idaho utah or nevada it has material wealth in full proportion to its population and i has a full of the and political institutions which illustrate the capacity for self government oklahoma has too an ambition for statehood which marks a self respecting politically capable and thoroughly american people there is no reason why oklahoma should not become a state on the other hand there Is every reason why she should there is no reason why her appeal for statehood should be retarded on account of her with indian territory and there is no reason why atto latter with its incubus of an aboriginal and population should ibe attached to her the i case of indian Teri lory Is entirely different here there are grave reason for delay the territorial status is precisely suited to the conditions of indian territory and it ought to be continued indefinitely until the territory shall have a weight of po capable population competent to handle without embarrassment the great domestic problem which now makes indian territory an exceptional country new mexico faas a sufficient population reckoned by mere numbers to support statehood and it Is entirely competent at the point of material development but there are we think grave reasons why it ought not be ini into the union more than halt of its people arc of a mixed and degenerate blood illiterate abjectly de voted to medieval superstitions inca pablo of conceiving american political ideas much less of caroylne carry lne on a system of government organized upon these ideas new mexico has to be sure a considerable body of enterprising and capable american population but the political and social tone of tha country ie only in a partial sense dominated by this last mentioned element if is the misfortune of the strictly american population of new that it in political association with an incapable spanish american element but it is a tact which cannot ibe gotten over there la no way to bring new mexico into the union without bestowing political privilege in the national sense upon a kaaa of people without the capacity to use it wisely therefore we think new mexico would better wait until in process of time either long or short she can ba brought into the union without adding a new problem to our political alfo arizona afee new mexico has a large inculpable political element but it Is relatively speaking a subordinate one the dominating forces in arizona aro american and it the territory were to como into the union it would be in the character ot an american state internal difficulties there will be unquestionably from time to time duo to tho degenerate mexican strain in her population but the situation will not bo more serious than that created by the black element in tho old southern states arizona we think ought to be allowed to bome into the union but under conditions tending to aagre her a local state government under the domination at american political ideas there is no beason no justice no common sense in saddling oklahoma with aba problem of the indian territory or tying now mexico and ariadna it Is and to handicap thee ambitious and capable young eccli with a body ot death la the shape 0 an social and element in a geographical abnee both oklahoma and arizona will be fr too large K the present projects of consolidation shall carry both indian territory and new mexico are large enough tor independent statehood whenever their ahall As suitable until that amo they should be heliin the territorial I 1 t |
