Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-15
TmE RIGHT HAND OF FELLOWSHIP
Ed. Posr-INrELLIaKScER:

Id. fOST- lNTKLLI0ESCEB:
Mankind are very naturally selfish.
One man by his superior genius or abil-
ity or perhaps through some fortuitOus
circumstances has come into the pos
session of certain rights and privileges
not possessed by his less fortunate fell
lows and forthwith he commences to
fortify to hold all that he has got and to
debar others from participating with
him in the enjoyment of what his own
inherent selishness has led him to be-
iieve IL exclusively his own. This DIS
position crops out in communities, in
society sets and may be seen in every
phase of life and has recently been
making itself very prominent in the
Amerlo Congress in refusing the
right hand OF fellowship to the Terri
tories of Washington and Dakota. Dur
ing the entire session Ut the Congress
just now adjourned thess two Terrific
ries have been knocking at the doors of
the Capitol for admission, and there has
been NO good reason given, there can
Dc no good reason given why the doors
nave not been thrown open and these
Territories welcomed to the s;sterhOOd
of States. Politicians may have their
reasons, but certainly none are apparent
to the general public. In refusing to
admit Washington Territory Congress
has certainly set at defiance the ex-
pressed wish Of the people and ignored
the material interests of the Territory.
The question is, how long shall these
things continue? 1t sometimes happens
In the course of human events that
rulers need to be reminded that the
governed have rights as we'll az the
governors. These maRnates who are
holding these Territories as vas ,als and
dependencies would do well to consider
some Of the tirst principles Of Republi-
can government.
The following clause, or its equivalent,
may be found in the National Consti.
tuition as we'll as in the constitution of
each individual State in the Union, viz:
"Al political power in inherent III the
people and all governments are found
cd on their authority and instituted for
their benefit, and therefore they have
at all times an inalienable and indie
feasible right to alter, reform or abol-
ish their form of government in such
manner as they may deem expedient."
There are certain rights and privileges
that the people Of the Territories have
of which no Congressional legislation
can deprive them; Of which no Omis-
sion on the part Of Congress to legislate
can deprive them. Among these is the
right to form State government when
ever they have the numbers and the
ability to do 50. and as sequence the
right of admission into the Union upon
an equal footing with the other States.
In his late speech Mr.. Brents demon
strated beyond the shadow of a Doubt
that Washington Territorg in number
of population, mineral wealth, financial
ability, agricultural resources and mar
itime interests IL better qualified for
State government than q
majority OF what are now States were
when admitted as members of the
Union. Under tho laws and usages
and presidents Of the National Govern
ment IN similar cases the people of
have the right to demand
representation in the American Senate,
and vote as well rs voice among the
representatives Of the people.
Our wealth. our population, our abil-
lty Tor sustaining u State government
give Us the right to choose our own
rulers and tn make our own laws. At
the lowest estimate We are over one
hundred thousand strong, yet we exist
in q sort of colonial vaasalaQe. No
choice, other directly or indirectly, a.
TO who shall be our rulers. Whomso-
over the powers choose to appoint to
rule over us is appointed, aud IL We
don't like il We can make the most Of Il. |
We have no representation in the ooun-
oils Of the nation; ret ~ are mad
enough to desire Il. But when ehall |
we get it? Will it be when party lead
srs SEQ iit to give il to %, or win il Be
when political stock jobbers at the Gap
ltOl think il for their interest to admit
, new State? Or will il b whom the
people of the Territory 60 TO work as il
they meant businessY Frame and adopt
! State constitution; elect their officers
under it; get in readiness all the ma
,hinery Of State government; slect
and send to Washington q Representa-
tive and two United States Senators to |
b there in readiness 10 \ demand ad-
mission and seats at the opening Of the
next Congress. Get y0urpelvso ND in
his shape. fellow citizens, and next
winter when your two senators and
Representative knock at the doors Un-
sic Sam viii think that tho father Of
his country has got . nau,eoake some
where on the Pacific coast entitled TO
some consideration. The history of the
world shows that the people have only
got their rights when they have asserted
and been ready to maintain them.