National Republican., 1883-08-16

Washington owed so ucl--wiped out our del
egat1 ia congress ana our municipal legisla-
turo--and stripped from our citizens tho right
OF su lraGc and representation. The only right
left tltm was that of submitting TO taS atiln
TO sustain n government in which they have
no voice. This is our present condition. and
ii is poorly calculated to inspire self respect
and contcntmcnt on the part OF the governed.
"Thoso who attempt TO defend this un-
pardunable invasion of our rights are rather
prolific in inventng reasons upon which to
base their oppo 3ition 10 restoring TO the people
the right of representation as an auxiliary to
taxation. Some claim that the District of
Columbia holds n similar relation TO the
! federal government as that of the territories.
! This is not tcnablo ground. l wish it was,
| for in that case the people would be recog-
nized in the right to vote for local logisa-
ture and delegate in congress. In truth
our condition as a people, numbering nearly
| 100000 souls, Is without u parallel in the
| history of this country. There is not another
municipality in the United States whore the
| people are not protected in the right to vote
for the officers of their local government,
and there is no other place whore congress
would dare TO despoil the people of their right
of suffrage. 1t has not been and will not be
attempted elsewhere, fer revolution would
speedily follow such an outrage.
But, intorposc the apologists for this glar-
ing wrong, congress has the authority TO leg
/
that is so, but not to the extent of rObbing
tho inhabitants of this territory of their
vested right, which everywhere else in the
nation are jealousy protected and preserved.
To pass laws confscating our property under
usurpod authority would be no more griev-
Gus than to abolish our dearest right of citi-
zenship, which, in every other section of our
country is respected, and if assailed, is de-
| Tended"
"What view do you take of the compare
tive efficiency and economy of our present
form of local government as compared with
one of the people?'
"I am amazed that congress should have
invented form of government for this dis
trict which finds no parallel elsewhere III
the nation. 1t is responsible to no one among
the ruled, and so long as u sense of response
bility insures efficiency | am of opinion that
II government of the people, responsible to
the poople, would be far more efficient and
benefcent to the public welfare than one
which recognizes no such responsibility. Az
to economy that depends largely upon the
official force and its fidelity to duty. II
would seem that one chief magistrate of the
municipality would be equally efficient and
far less expensive than triumviratc govern
mcnt"
1.-The great cities of the country are ruled
by n mayor and common council, and in most
cities of the size of Washington the council
receives only nominal compensation, while
the mayors receive less compensation thar
is afforded to either of our commissioners
Our triumvirute receive $4,000 annually
and it is not difficult to believe that Sl0,0Ot
might be saved annually in that one item by
q wisely organized government modelled attel
those of other cities If money can be saved
at the head, it affords fair guarantee that il
can be throughout the entire governmental
structure. Then, a government of the people
! would be likely to hold a higher respect f'i
the rights and interests of the governed
than one which is in no degree responsible tO
them"
"Would you favor a change in the fnanc:a
policy of the district?"
II think not, under the existing copartner
ship with the general government. 1t occur
to me that change in the method of provid
ing for this government from executive
appointment to popular election woult
involve no necessity for u change i'll tho mod
I of collecting and disbursing the funds. Ther'
is no public dissatisfaction with that feature
of our government, while there is u rapidly
growing feeling of discomfort owe
the existing mode of selecting our rulers
The people, with here and there an eXcep
tion, desire to be recognized politically, a
, their fellow citizens are in every other sec
> tion of our common country. They seek t
recover the ballot as the badge of their citi
2enship and to enjoy the privilege of havin
, a voice in their local government, inasmuc
as they are taxed for its support. This doc
not seem to be an unreasonable desire, and
congress is guided by just and patriotic in
fiuences, the wish will be gratiiied with yer
, little delay.
SIN this connection 1 would suggest wa,
out of this conflict of sentiment Submit TIL
question of suffrage non-sulrage to til
:, people of the district, and if majority decid
in favor of self government then let ther
. have it. But on the other hand, if majorit
are in favor of the present form of govern
: ment and shall so pronounce, then it will b
: the duty of every good citizen to bow i
= humble submission to the verdict, and be cor
! tent with what he has. favor popular rul
through the ballot. for that is in accord wit
. the genius and spirit of tho free institution
. . of q republic