Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-30
The Suffrage Question.

treats the matter OF suffrage representation
in this District with that fairness which usu-
ally characterizes it in dealing with subjects
of such interest" The cry of feather dust
ers," Murder Bay &C.. that paper argues,
does not affect the issue at all, and it holds that
the fact that the abolished legislature had
some unworthy members, proves no more
against the right of suffrage than the fact that
there are unworthy members in Congress.
The question, it says, lis the application of
the principle upon which our Government aud
institutions are founded, the right OF taxation
with representation" Further, the United
States Government and the taxpayers are
joint tenants in the realty of the District, and
the control of these property interests should
be by trustees selected by each party, and pro-
pOrtiOned to the interest held by EACH
We answer, first that universal suffrage was
not made OdiOus here by the acts of few un-
worthy members of the House of Delegates
1.-THE elective branch) but by the fact that the
Murder Bay politicians controlled the whole
elective machinery of the District and die
tated ''by large majority in the caucuSeS
and at the polls who should be sent to the
House. The taxpayers were completely
Swamped by the floating population. 1t was
taxation without representation with a ven
geance. These experiences explain why tax
payers are almost unanimously opposed to the
restoration of suffrage here. 1t is all very
well to talk about the right of the ballot and
of representative government where the
words have any meaning, but here from the
very nature of the case, they can have none.
The Constitution declares expressly that Con-
greSS shall exercise exclusive legislation in all
cases whatsoever over the District of Column
bia-' 1t is on this fact that Congress has thus
exclusive jurisdiction, and that the people here
can have practically no representative powers
that the just claim is based that the govern
ment should assume its full share of the eX
penSeS of the national city. This is fully ad-
mitted and declared in what is known as the
Morrill, repOrt-the report of the joint select
committee of Congress appointed to consider
the question of District government. That
report says: THE streets, avenues, squares,
and general plan of the capital city bear the
impress of paramount and eTclusire nation
olitg; spacious and grand in design, dedicated
to the sacred uses of a national capital, Oner-
Gus and even lntOlerable as charge upon pri-
yate property, the provision for supervision
OF all suitable Improvements and decorations
obriOudy, property. and i'm perdtirely deuolUes
TpOn Congress- and it will, as it respects the
character of its jurisdiction and the dignity
of its trust, exercise jealous care over it,"
The peOple-certainly the taxpayers of the
District-recOgnize the anomalous position
they occupy at the seat of government, and
accept the situation. They appreciate the
fact that the exercise of suffrage here in this
Congress governed city is a mere nullity. and
only serves to keep afiOat vagrant vicious
voting population, that Washington is trying
to get rid of.
As regards the point that the taxpayers as
joint tenants in the realty of the District
should have share in the control of their
property interests, the objection occurs again
that under universal suffrage the taxpayers
would get no voice in the matter. Murder
Bay would dictate who should be the ''trus
tees" for these property interests. thas been
suggested that by givingus form of qualified
suffrage the taxpayers might be enabled to
exercise their rights at the polls, but We doubt
if any form of qualified suffrage, especially
one with property qualification, would have
ghost of a chance of getting through Con-
greSS. We doubt if a dozen members would
have the nerve to vote for it. The only posi-
bic result that We can see from the injection of
the suffrage question into District legislation
now, is to lead to a prOtracted discussion in
Congress, resulting in the defeat of the meas
ure of such vital interest to the District: the
definite adjustment of the proportion the gov
eminent will pay of the expenses of the capital
city; the streets, avenues, squares and gen.
eral plan" of which bear the impress of para
mount and exclusive nationality"
According to report raiding party from
this side of the border has crossed into Mexi
co in the interests OF Lerdo and captured sew
eral towns. II Mexico is to be held response
bic for the ravages of marauding bands of In
dianS crossing from her side of the line, why
should not the United States be blamable on
the same grounds for this incursiOn of Texan
MeXicans: A breach of neutrality through
carelessnesS may be charged with much
Justice i'll the one case as in the other.
Russia. which has oppressed the church in
Poland and Hing Humbert, who has assumed
the title e King of Italy" are to be especially
remembered in papal allOcutiOn now in
course of preparation. The Pope is not too
sick to Use vigorous words when he thinks the
occasion REQUIRES it,