Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-04-03
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 5, 1875.
WHITTIER ARE WE DRlrTIBG9.

understood bs the people, through bit
ter experience. One by one, they find
thsirpriviieges acheduronby Con-
gressional enactment, or some arbitrary
ruling of a Department, and they are
obliged to yield without the slightest
possibility of o remonstrance ever clio
iting the attention necessary for a hear
ing Of their petition or a change OF pol
icy. When the Democratic party went
out Of power, in 1851, this Territory
was allowed annual sessions of the Leg
islature, of sixty days each, which body
could elect its own Printer and other
officials, and enact such laws as its
constituents required, untrammeled by
any observation-disclosures whatever. But
this latitude did not suit the Republican
idea Of free government. First, the
veto power was bestowed upon the Gov
ernor, which made him the equal in leg
islation Of q bakers dozen of the law
makers elected by the people; then the
Department recognized "party nee
essity" by taking the privilege of elect
ing the Public Printer from the repre-
sentatives of the people; then the ses-
sions were made biennial, and then
shortened to forty days; next the Terri
tory was compelled to pay for its own
incidental printing; then the lands of
settlers were wrested from them and
given to q grasping corporation; and
now, the Revised Statutes provide that
the Territorial officers, formerly elected
by the people, through theirlegally con-
stituted representatives, are to be APP
pointed by the Governor, subject to the
"advice and consent of the Council,
meaningless provision, which does not
in the least abridge the power Of the
Governor to select whom he pleases for
Auditor, Treasurer, School Superin-
tendent, Librarian and such other posi-
tons as are now established, or may be
created, by law. The simple effect of
this act will be-, to compel the people
to pay salaries to officers they have no
voice in selecting; to render tribute to
the Government for the simple privi-
'lege of being an appendage of the
American Union, and constituting, prac-
tically, political poor-house, where it.
is convenient to send such politicians,
and their relatives, as are no longer SER
viceable in manipulating State politics
for national party purposes. When
ever the Territory asks for an appropri-
alton to secure any needed object, il is
promptly refused, unless some Senator
or Representative, through personal
friendship for the Delegate, or some
other equally commendable and public
spirited motive, requests favorable &C.
ton. ! Then it is conceded, not as a
benefit to the Territory, but as con-
cession to the member who solicits it,
TO be repaid whenever demand is
made upon him for reciprocal favor.
How different all this is just across
the water, with our Colonial neighborsl
Great Britain maintains feet for the
protection of her. dependencies, she al
lows them to elect all their officers ex-
cept the Governor, leyies no taxes upon
them, places no burden upon their COM
merce or industry, and allows them TO
levy the same tariffs upon her own pro-
auctions as those of other countries.
Liberal appropriations are made for
public improvements, and oil needful
expenses are cheerfully met to sustain
the national credit and the life of the
colonies during their incipient struggles
for existence. The contrast is too
marked for our people to disguise the
chagrin they feel whenever the sub
jeet is discussed. They realize that it
would be far better for them, pecunia-
rily, to be annexed to the English colo
mics. and were it not for our almost
idolatrous love for the old flag, and the
patriotism founded on traditions of the
past, they would doubtless before this
have availed themselves Of the advan-
tage Of location and pettioned for an
nexatioh to = country which endeayors
to cherish and promote the interests of
those who open up the wilderness to
civilized life. s1;,,..-,s ,'' 20 hi. a. 81
Capitalization of power! What is it,
if the progress the past ten years has
not been steadily in that direction? The
patronage controlled by the President
has been increased four-fold since the
good days OF peace and prosperity. when
we had no /" national blessing; his