The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-04-25
Territorial Representation In the Ma
finnal NcmOcrnIic C0nYcntiOn.

To the Editor of The sunday Herald:
SIR The Democracy of the Western Terri
tories MS well as the District Of Columbia Is organ
ikng with view Of prcacntlng their claims to the
National Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, FOR
representation that they may have both voice and
vote In the selection OF the nominees of the party for
President and Vice President Of the United States.
This is matter of no inconslderablo magnitude In It's
relations to the future Of the Democratic party. In
deed, II Is that has been too long neglected The
right Of the District OF Columbia well "a the West
etn Territories, to representation In the Convention
and tho Executive Committee, to say nothing Of its
policy, is one that cannot he seriously denied These
are questions which have long bceu mootcd, but which
have not received the consideration which the merits
of the case demand. The Republican party have not
overlooked nor undcrcsnated the importance TO
them Of thorough organization Of their party within
the Territories They do NOT forget that ese Terri
tories the germs OF future States and that they
viii come into the sisterhood of states as Republican
Democratic States, just In proportion TO the efforts
made by the party the other to effective
working organizations while yet ina Territorial con-
dition.
To encourage these local organizations In the Terri
tories aud the District Of Columbia the Republican
party strengthens the hands of their partisan friends
by way Of recognition Of their manhood In giving
them representation In their National Conventions.
This fact of recognition goes very far to encourage
party organizations within the Territories aud Dis
irict Of Columbia. No one VIII question this as the
result But how Is VI with the Democratic partyY Is
It, MS National party. giving aid and comfort 10 Its
friends and supporters within the District of Colum
bia and the TeiritoriesY How, and In what way ?
We have no voice nor recognition In the counscs OF
| the National party. and u we ask for political
cr,lmb from the Democratic table It Is given IL given
Mt all. charity and not right, aud that " is
Just so much taken from the quota Of spos belonging
| TO the States. Is this because we have no vote for
Presidential electors, nor vote nor voice In the
| lection of the candidates OF the Democratic
party. for President and Vice President OF
| the United states? Does the absence of that
vote justify the exclusion of the Democracy Of the
District Of Columbia and the Tciritoret from voice
In the national counscls of the party? Are we not
deeply interested in who shall be President of the
| United States, yea more deeply interested than even
the friends of the party within the States? We are
affected directly by the party In power through tho
officers which the President appoints to rule over MS.
while the citizens of the States through the majority
OF the one or the other party select their own rulers.
Not so with the bona .fde people of the District of
Columbia. We are here deprived of all elective fran
chse and the President appoints all our officers and
the humblest notary public Have we no Interest,
then, In the selection OF the President of the United
| States. who, when elected, welds such power and
influence over MS?
with population of over one hnnred aud fifty thou
sand souls alargeporto OF whom Intelligent
educated AZ any of like numbers of peoples within the
States 1t Is not to he supposed that he conten
to bury manhood aud remain passive, dspossesset
| of all political rights whatever while the n,unicipa
powers heretofore delegated, have been resumed by III,
General Government, and because of this, that W.
should put away all thoughts or feelings of deep inter
in the selection OF the country Chief Executive
when there Is much power vested IN him that affect
us in all onr business and social relations of life here
Is 1t to he supposed that II the bona de citizens
property-holders of the Distric tof Columbia ha'
voice In the selection and election of the President
the United states, that he would he likely 10 nsil
our manhood by importing white and colored oniee,
to and collect our taxes, and TO preside
courts as the chief marshal of the District? As IL
to-day, all officers connected In any capacity with tn
administration of civil affairs within said District ar
appointed by the General Government, and which i
made the experimental garden In which the senti
mentasm OF extreme radicalism is propagated. Civ
voice in the organized Democracy of the country
and in ier national councils, and viii right Il,
| wrongs under which now suffer.
Furthermore, In times of State and Federal cleo
a tions there are friends of the Democratic part
called upon to do more hard work, who spend thei
time money more freely 10 the of til
party than those living In the District of Columbia
1t is the source aud cnanann of more cainpaig
material and documents than all the States combined
These require time, labor and money to send out,
are the free contribution of the Democracy here
Then, too often send best public speakers int
the States where their services needed durin
hotly-cOntested cam pa!gns at Our own expense.
In conclusion tl,en let me say, In view of the fa,
that we are preparing In this District to send DELE
gates to Cincinnati, II beOOves to select ft
this responsible position who have the influence
ability to represent well and fully our claims to vol,
and vote In that Convention and who will have Il
greatest Influence with the delegations from the Stat
to carry the measure through.
: Respectfully submitted, G. l.. CULVER.