Speech #490016262

As to the other Territories. they will receive something. and there is no difficulty whatever in the acceptance of the sum. however small it may be. To preserve the symmetrical character of the bill. to give to all our population in proportion to the existing illiteracy on the basis of the census of 1880. which we adopt from necessity. there being no other basis. and which we can not reject until we take another census without occasioning great confusion. it was thought best to include these Territories. They are increasing rapidly in population. it is true. but most of the increase is from the educated people in the States and from the more intelligent class of foreign immigration. so that the standard of illiteracy in most of the Territories is low. though until perhaps recently Iowa supplanted them in that honorable distinction as having the lowest rate of illiteracy of any part of the entire country. Nevertheless these small sums which the Territories receive will help them a little and certainly can do no harm. while. as I said before. the Territory of New Mexico will be greatly benefited. and to it this money is almost indispensable. So far as Alaska is concerned. if it is properly a Territory.