The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-30
REMOVING THE CAPITAL.
From the N. Y. Tribune.

cTOHs ttt ~ l. ITtOu7e
We gave on Friday a full hearing to those
who seek transfer of the Federal Metropolis
from the banks of the Potomac to those of
the Mississippi. Mr.. i. U. Reavis, who thus
addresses President Grant on the subject,
was an early and has been not only an earn
est but an indefatigable champion of re-
moval. He has worked more, and we Judge
to better purpose, than any of his allies; and
the considerations which favor removal have
never been more fully nor more cogently set
forth than they are in the letter which we
published.
Yet we think the President is substantially
if not technically right in his position that
the capital is not to be removed by mere
majority vote in each house-a majority
which may number less than one-third of the
members entitled to sit in that house. The
capital of great nation is not to be mounted
on wheels and dragged hither and thither as
casual majority may dictate. We do not
dispute the legal efficacy of such q vote; we
only maintain that removal is SO grave a topic
that, though the Constitution does not ex-
pressly prescribe it, something very like
constitutional amendment should be required
to effect it. And this is what the President
intended by his casual remarks quoted by
Mr. r.
On the next point, we are in full accord
| with Mr.. Reavis. The capital question
|
now. The westward and southwark extern
sion of our area, until it has become many
times what it was in 1887, raises fair pre-
sumption that the capital needs to be re-
located. The fact Gf fact it be) that the
Valley of the Potomac proffered the ittest
site in 1900, by no means proves that
it remains such to this day. The fair infer
ence is otherwise. Hence we say, let us
take up the subject and dispose of it con-
! oil 10 CO 49,,
shall remain essentially what it is. If we
shall 60 one annexing until we rule the entire
continent, it is probable that New Orleans, or
Vera Cruz, or Nicaragua, or Panama, will
then be the spot for our capital. But, hav-
ing quadrupled our original area by additions
on two sides only, and there paused, let us
determine whether Washington shall or shall
not remain the Mecca of our ofice-seeking
pilgrims, before we spend another mill in
buying costly grounds and erecting buildings
at Washington, which could not be sold for
five per cent of their cost in case the Gov
ernment shall ever leave them behind it,
But We are not convinced that central
location is SO important as Mr.. Reavis esteems
it. Other things being quite equal, such
location is expedient; but other things rarely
or never are equal. So London is the capt.
tai of Great Britain, Paris of France, Stock
holm of Sweden, and Lisbon of Portugal,
though neither of them is near the centre of
the kingdom. Nay, st. Petersburg, the
modern capital of Russia, is by no
means SO central as was that Mosco "
which Peter the Great abandoned.
Rome is not so near the centre of
Italy as Florence is; yet the latter is about to
give place to the former. China is very old,
conservative country; yet Peking, her modern
capital, is not SO central to her territory as
her earlier capitals were. In short, we con-
cede to geographical position very subordi-
nate Importance in the location of seat of
government. Mr.. Reayis may wisely consider
that his own St Louis is not so near the CEN
tire of our present domain as Topeka or Fort
Riley, and govern himself accordingly.
We have not doubt that New York is the
most desirable point in the Union for the
location of its capital. Nine-tenths of our
own people whose duties constrain them to
reside or soiourn at the capital with ten
tenths of the Old Worlds ambassadors and
other visitants, would decidedly prefer it.
Art, literature, the drama, music, and every
thing that interests or delights mankind, are
more abundantly and cheaply en- Dyed here
than elsewhere in the New World. More
over, our politics and municipal rule are SO
thoroughly rotten that even the presence of
Congress and the Federal departments could
not further corrupt them.
Yet we do not ask nor seek removal of
the capital to our city. We are quite con-
tent with Washington though we are conf
dent that one hundred million dollars would
have been saved ere this by location which
afforded the denizens of the Federalmetropo-
lis somewhat to live on beside the Govern.
ment. That the present location was a very
grave mistake we have long been convinced;
and We are not sure that the blunder is be-
yond remedy. But read Mr.. Reavis on this
point, and form your own opinions.