National Republican., 1883-08-09
=Tho Right OF Local Self Government.

sly"
THE Right OF Local Self Government.
There are now two hundred thousand in
habitants in the District of Columbia, and by
the close of the present century there will be
half q million. Is there any reason why
these people should be governed by an ire
sponsible trumviate ofcondcmnod politicians
from distant states2 Are they less qualified
for self government than any othor equal
number Of American citizens? Does an
American citizen, the moment he enters the
district, lose the qualities that fit him TO be
his own master aud with them those rights
sacred everywhere else in the republic9
There is but one reason assigned by the
few who have been consulted on the subject;
The experiment was tried and proved fail
urc, in that it ontqiled an enormous debt
upon the people of Washington. That the
law was a bad one must be admitted. 1t did
not protect the inhabitants of the district. Ut
mingled tho power of appointment with the
principle of election 1t was hastily con.
sidered and passed without proper guards;
but this furnishes no reason why well
guarded law, executed under the vigilance of
those interested, should not prove salutary.
The opinions of those against suffrage in
the district are by no means conclusive evil
dence of the political sentiment of the people.
Men who are willing to surrender the right
of self government to a triumvirate of po-
! litical servants are unfit to pronounce judg-
mont that merits the consideration of free
men. Put the question before the people,
and you will find where the verdict is.
This want of energy and watchfulness so
essential to good government is the parent Of
many vices. 1t soon degenerates into an
intense selfshness and forbidding pride. 1t
is fatal to that enterprise which marks the
character of Americans. 1t contracts itself
wants of the clerks who furnish the only
expected custom. 1t establishes no great
commercial houses looking to distant lands
for an outlet. 1t builds no great manu-
factories. 1t is contented with the res
taurant, second class hotel, cigar stand, retail
grocery, dry goods store, and sample room.
1t is alleged that congress has the exclusive
right to legislate for the district in all cases.
The general power to legislate for the district
was given to congress. But even this sweep
ing clause has Its limitations. Congress
| nnt lieb n1i 1i1in In
free exercise of it, abrdge the freedom of
speech or the press, pass bill of attainder or
an ex post facto law, or grant titles of no.
bility. The general power of congress over
the district is limited by provisions of the
constitution and by the reserved rights of
the people Of the district Neither congress
nor any other legislative body in the union
has any arbitrary power over the people.
| The constitution in its terms and its func-
tion is consecrated to the liberty and safety
of the people. 1t can no more deprive the
inhabitants of this district of the inalienaNe
right Of self government than it can establish a
religion or grant titles of nobility. Tho right
to self government, the inalenable right of
every citizen of the district to determine by
his vote the force that shall control his local
affairs, is as clear as it is in the states, as it is
of tho individual.
The fear of being controlled by the litter
ate III this district is ridiculous in the eX-
Every child has the opportunity of good
education, and the adult population is not
surpassed in intelligence by any city in the
world. The great difficulty is that the dis
trict has become the asylum of intelligent in
ertia that dread contact with the euterpris-
ing humble.
We want no appointments by the executive.
The people are far better Judges of the ca
pacity of their servants than any executive
can be. To surrender this point is to surren-
der the whole principle and adopt the ex-
caste and popular incapacity should be erased
from the constitution, and all important Off
GERS should be elected. The power of appoint
ment is legacy from the "divine right of
kings"
Tho utter disfranchisement of the people OF
the district is an indignity to the principles
ON which our institutions repose and should
be resented by every man who esteoms the
sanctity of an American citizen. 1t is no
longer question for discussion. If the citi-
zen can be righteously divested of the ballot
he has no right that may not be taken from
him without crime.