National Republican., 1883-03-13
The National Cinderella.

One hundred and eighty thousand people
living at the capital of the nation are taxed
without representation and governed with
out their consent. Congress looks upon this
community as n baby-minder looks upon the
child she must appear to care for, but in
which she cannot get up an interest. We do
not say that congress has not done much and
literally, but it has been spasmodically and
the good has been interspersed with many
buffets. The district committees of congress
arc occupied largely in keeping
mob of place hunters Off their backs,
and If for an hour or so they are al.
lowed by these to devote themselves to hear.
ingsof the real wants of the district It is, after
all, only an hour or so, and is only part of
much other and wholly different work. We
have no voice in the selection of those who
shall assess the valuation of our property or
fix the rate of taxation thereon. We cannot
make eilicacious, by the great American power
of voting any complaint as to the manner in
which our streets are paved, our schools man
aged, our houses and persons guarded at night,
our property protected from fire, or our lives
from pestilence.
The commissioners of the district are our
guardians appointed over u.s. and we believe
they are as efficient as though they had been
elected to their places. But if that is the best
way for governing city, why are not others
so governed We have population greater
than that of either of the states of Delaware
Nevada, or Oregon, and but little less than
that of Colorado. Each of those states has
two senators and u member of the lower
house to voice tho wants of their people.
| Why should we be dumb? The population
of the District of Columbia is larger than that
of either of the eight territories. Each of
these has n delegate in congress to speak for
its people. This district has none. Arizona,
Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming territories
have an aggregate population of but $4,000,
and they have four delegates. This district,
with 10000 moro population than the four of
them put together has none. Why should
we not have a delegate in congress? Can
such a communitybc be thus prescribed, spurnod,
and Disseminated against without protest or
any murmur of discomfort?
Since the grant of power to congress of ex.
elusive jurisdiction over the ten miles square
selected for seat of government great
changes have occurred. What reason exists
for continuance of this political non-exist-
ence of arapidly growing community? Why,
indeed, should not that provision of the con-
stitution be amended and this people have
all the rights of self government enjoyed by
| the people of the several states? Better that
we should be a part and parcel of the State
of Maryland, with all possible protection
to national interests and powers reserved in
the constitutional amendment which would
be necessary for such u change, than to be
dragged along at the tail of congress to
which we are nuisance and whose constt-
uents afar Off arc to be pleased with what
they do to or for us.
| 1t is good time now to begin some agita.
tion of this question, not only of whether
this community is ever to have anything to
say of its own affairs through local officers
duly elected, but whether it is to be deprived
even of voteless voice in the lower house of
congress, which the law.defying Mormons of
| Utah have without protest,
The question is addressed ON behalf of the
national Cinderella to her sister communities
of the states and territories.