Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-06-13

I
in every line that is not surcharged
with venom against against the Dem
ocra,ic party. is more than we can
understand. Ii starts out with
succession Of falsehoods each OF
which must he patent to the most
ignorant person who has memory
enough to retain facts and barely
sense TO draw a logical conclusion.
These glazing measurements will be
the subject Of future comment. tt
present purpose is TO show up the
hollow heaItedness OF its professed
hostility TO the acquisition of large
tracts of land by corporations or in
dlviiuals, and 10 demonstrate that
Notwithstanding the Republican
party came into power on the ex-
pressed declaration that
rhe public lands OF the United States
belong to the people and should not be
sold Ia individuals nor gra .itcd to cor ,,O-
raiions. hut should lie held as q sacred
Trust iol The benefit of the people and
should Il" granted. IN limited quantities,
free al cost IL landiess settlers,
among tue first acts of the Admin.
is,ration-on the LIST day Of July,
ls62-it granted to corporations 2S,-
A2. 7GG acres OF the public land.
and in less than three years from
that date, the concessions made by
the Republican majority in Con.
gress had reached the immense area
OF ~, 600, 900 acres. 1t will thus bs
seen that during the first four years
OF this misrule Of party, pledged
to hold the public domain as "sa-
cred trust for the people, almost
three times rs much of the public
lands had been granted to corpor-
atoms as had been applied by the
States for internal improvements
during the seventy-five years exist
ence Of the Government. But it
did not stop here. 1t continued on,
in increasing volume. until Demo.
cratic majority in the House, in
1875. put check upon the infamous
practice. The public records show
that from the 4th OF March, 1861, to
the 3Oth Of June, 1874, little less
than fourteen years. the Republican
party, pledged by the most solemn
assurance that it would sacredly
guard the public lands, which it
declared belonged to the people
and should not DO sold 10 individuals
or granted to corporations" but
given in limited quantities, free of
oost, TO actual settlers" had placed
y The hands Of corporations the col
lossal area Of 193, l42, 6O7 acres, and
OF THE amount. more than 16O, OOO,-
OOO acres had been given outright
to corporations, which have been
during all that time and are to-day
the main support Of the party in all
political campaigns.
And what has been the policy Of
tho party with reference to the &C.
QUESTION Of large tracts OF lands by
individuals. Unfortunately we know
too we'll to our cost. Under the
various acts for the sale of the pub.
lie lands, the door has been opened
wide to the rapacious greed of
wealthy corporations. The most
fragrant violations Of law have trans
PRED under the very eyes of those
who were sworn to |" sacredly guard"
the public domain, and whole town.
ships have been absorbed by wealthy
spectators in open defiance of party
platforms and statutory law.
II will be seen that the stand
taken by the party in 1860. if pro.
fsssions amount to anything, was
much frmer than that of the late
Convention. Contrast the language
and see:
PLArvoRn 1860. PLATFORM 1884.
That tho public The public lands
lands Of the United are tho heritage of
states belong to thelthe people OF the
people and should u nited States, and
not be sold to indi- should he reserved
uais or granted toas far As possible for
corporations. but small holding by
should be held a. a actual settlers. We
sacred trust for the are opposed to the
benefit Of tho people acQu isition OF large
and should be grant tracts of these lands
oil la limited quanti-lby corporations or
ties. free OF cost, to individuals, especial.
landless settlers. iIy where holdings
are In the hands OF
nonresident aliens,
and we will endea-
vOr to enact such leg.
islation as will tend
Ito correct this evil.
The sentiment Of the party twenty.
three years ago was unequivocal.
II affirmed that tho public lands be-
longed to the people and should not
be sold 10 Individuals or granted TO
corporations. After granting 1884,
100000 acres and selling much
more, 1t now holds that the public
lands should be reserved. as far as
possible for small holdings BY actual
settlers, aud its only absolute antip-
athy seems to be held against for
eign corporations and aliens. Has
the use the party has made Of home
corporations awakened chords of
sympathy which now harmonic the
party ON . new creed, modified by
tie requirements Of capital What