The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-04-16
County and City Official Press.
Monday, April l6. 1877.
TERRITORIAL VASSALAGE.

TERRITORIAL VASSALAGE.
Tiiat history repeats it.elt - tgue
even in the case IF the relations Of the
Territories 10 the nised states govern
mcrst. Though endowed with all the
natural sentiments and patriotism OF
American citizens, those OF Is @ho have
pioneered the way for the flag in the
lonesome aiils west Of the 10th merii-
ian aud north Of the 40 parallel. for the
past quarter Of century. have during
ali that period been held politically in
q state Of vassalage. We have no voice
whatever in the government that eXer-
eises a more de4potic and supreme au
thoEity of control over Us than ever WAS
assumed by the monarchy Of Great
Britain over bsr colonies This in a
republican form Of government gives
the lie TO the very fundamental prin-
cipal of our political system We
have no vote on national issues onT-
selves Our delegate. allowed by a
mockery OF condesccnsion. to represent
us in Congress has 10 voice-is in fact
only an absurd figure bead. Bat worse
than all. tn, government will not even
allow us 10 elect our own Territorial
officers. but fols,s upon us such favor
ties or proletaires as suits the party in
power at Washington. just us old Rome
used to send out her Pompeys and
Serres as pro-cGnsu!s over the pro-
vsnces.
Touching this point. Hon. W. Il.
Steele, in the course Of the debate
which took place in Congress last
Summer or the bill for holding local
elections ia the Territories for Terri
toriai officers, said
II do not intend to say tha, all who
ARE unfit for their positions. bu, that
very large percentage Of them are ut
terry unworthy is M undaub:ed fact
We sometimes have competent, good
men appointed to office. but too often
the Territories are lonkcd upon IA
political Botany bay. to which men are
sent as governor. secretary, or judges.
who are unfit aud incompetent for the
positions. and tho Ia their own homes
could secure no office Of honor or profit
from the people who knew them. but
" ho were recommended for rritorial
appointment in orGrr 30 billet them
upon some unfortunate and long ulitr-
ing people.
When the Territories are ncw and
feeble they need wise. prudent. and op-
erge,ic management of their affairs, IN
order 10 develop their resources aud in
vito aud attract attention to them.
Then it il that they need the nurture
and care of officers who are identified
with them in interest. whose hopes and
aspirations are found up in the pro-
gress aud prosperity oil people aud Ter
ritory. ioi when communities become
great. powerful, anal prosperous. they
run along even II hadly ruled and man
aged with certain degree of order and
regularity
Even the lands al our own territory
are held as ''seiguorago of the crown
and the proceeds of their sale 20 to
swell. it may 10 supposed. the appro-
pristions fer the benefit al some place
or other elsewhere
These are only some OF the hardships
inciden. 90 Territorial situation. Il,
would b. irksome IN cnnmcra,e ali the
instances OF petty determinations
against Territories III legislation, and ali
the arbitrary limitations aud swsddling
hands OF tyranny that have been
wrapped asoun their helpless limbs.
An attempt WAS lately made TO prohibit
certain branches Of manufacture in the
Territories
1, Is useless u think Of irving
to remedy this system. We are
pcweriess to accomplish anything in
Washington under the system. let
alone against II 1t is according 10
human nature and too strong n temp
tstioa To he resisted for sbsolnio power
10 assert itself by dominecrins over
weaker dependencies as long As il may
do So with immunity The people of
this Territory have had enough Of this
unfortunate condition. and the mps;
prac,icsi remedy is IN &c; cat ~ Il as
soon as possible by cr1wding tur al
mission iata the uiou.