Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-14
fORfEHCu NE.
Nv. w. Watchmau.

There seems 10 be design to run the
present campaign on an assumption of
popular imoscility. rhs efforts put
forth In this oanvtts to defeat forfeit
ufe are made with intent TO deceive.
They are bungiing attempts to b NIX oa
pnblio stupidity. The gseat ain OF ths
Northern Pacific authoritI-s il 80 dslty
declaration of forfeiture until such
time as ths agricultural lands in Yak ma
and the coal Ian il on the Sound are oss-
titled To the comptnv. Waen that is
accomplished the oonpanv will pcoba
bly Invite n declaration OF forfeiture.
aud piously excuse a brraol OF oooa
faith IN the construction of the q sscad ,
branch. The references to good faith"
ON the part of railroad corporations In
the national platform Is an insult 81
public intelligence. As fast "a a % mile
section il com pIeted ON the Yakima dl-
vision. the company hastsns forward
government commissioners to inspect,
receive and lodas information upon
which plIant Interior Department eau
certify lands. IL is known 10 every
we'll informed person in this Territory
that determined effort vas made last
spring to have lands certif "a to the
company on an old al I'D baiit out
from Tacoma a number Of years ago.
The conventions that make solid dec
larations about the imposition of coadi-
tions for tae dispossi of railroad lands
do merely glb5ernonsense. Tue North
ern Pacifie claims an indefeasiote
title TO its entire grant in fee simple
With the entail cut OF from all rom lia-
ders. Ii claims even To he "biggeI
49, Nl.n.eaa ard has ax.t, NJ n
that, II Congress sttenpts ecisr st ION
Of forfeiture, it will 90 before tae Sl.
preme Ooort and have tho 40 ION Of
Congress set aside. Congress cannot
certainly say tn an individual, who has
aeq llred title uader the home
stead or pre- em mption laws, how
he shall dispose of his lands;
and the absardity of an attempl
TO dictate To a railroad corporation
favored in right by the uniform genius
of governmental policy-ln regard IL
the manner Of lsud disposal. il 30 pal
pably apparent that mons bat foss OF
knaves, it would seem, y mid havs tue
hardlhoood TO attempt TO jlggle intelli-
gent people with such trash Every
anti forfeiture plank in any political
platform in this Territory b ~ bssa
sophistich and insincere. lt has not
been with the intent to improve the
condition of the people. but 10 eurioh
the railroad company. Is hss never
been claimed oy tue most ardent isil-
road striker or the m)a shameless
veal or Of the railroad collar in this Fer
ritory that the millions of dollars the
lands along the Cascade branch are
worth will ever reduce the volume oi
the stock, 30 that the business of tbs
country will be more lightly taxed fol
she purpose Of paying dividends. There
IA no presense anywhere that the i'm
mense land grant of the Northern Pa
cific has ever had any effect in re
ducins the volume Of the stock belos
what i, would have been without SUD
sidy. The theory on which the gov
ernmens made the grant Was. that =
would be almost sufficient TO build tn
road. and that the pioneers living slons
the line would be lightly taxed on the,
trNnsporsssioa business 20 furnish tn
revenue fer dividends on road bull
| in great part by government aid. Inf
| theory vas delnslve In its Inception
| has ever been a. the swelling them
progressed. and will prove the iina
e,tastrophe Of delusion and folly IL th
| political demaeeeues OF this Terrstor'
should succeed in persnsding simple
minded people thai, beesase the GOV
eminent fox had lost his tail ia q trar
| Il il fashiouabie for the people OF thi
| Territory 10 be similarly curtsiled. La
the dog in the nsangef thst retsrds DE-
| yeIopment In the agricultural lands q
Yakima and the coal fields and forest
west of the mountains be turned loos
! among she other dogs, and the natars
and Ieritimate business OF the coautr
will not be long In furnishing the pes
ME the means of transportation. Wit
an aurmeuting population coutinaail
sw~llius the business and reducing sh
| rates. besidea cpntrihusing their in
share in she discharge Of she public bn
dsna