Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-09-02
olIly poST.lNTEluGEMcER.


platfsrn," and that sit shows eVidehSs
=. .k;,,snI tinkerin9." That resolution
demands the speedy forfeiture OF all
land grants which have lapsed by rea
.on of NON compliance with the acts OIL
incorporation in all cases where there
has been no attempt made in good ia''o |
70 perform tbe conditions OF socn
GRANT, We said then. and nov repeat
that the conditional clause attached 10
the tail of the resolution was needless
that /. left open loophole-afferoeo
"an opportunity for railroad Senators
and Represt natives TO sqnirm ano
dodge the issue !" that " the pubic DC
mapd is absolute that Of the resoiu-
tion IL conditional" Recently the pub
Lie has been assured by prom
iuent railroad organ In neigh
boring city that It's employers Will be
satisfied il the Republican Convention
which will assemble in this city next
Thursday shall content itself IN dispos-
ing of the forfeiture question With re-
producing and affirming the resolution
of the National Convention.
This organ is undoubtedly correct In
expressing the sentiment of its masters
upon this subject. Had a Republican
Convention met SIX months ago, no such
resolution would have found favor With
the organ or the company. bat the Con-
yention would have been urged to re-
solve, in plain and earnest language not
only against forfeiture, but in favor OF
extending TO an indefsite period the
time for constructing the uncompieted
portions of the Northern Pacific rail-
road. Since that time, however, the de-
mands Of that company baye been great
" modified, until, instead of desiring an
Endorsement of its outrageous and mex
ousuble delays and an affirmation OF
the justice and right Of its unjust and
unriehteous claims TO public lands IN
this Territory, it holds up its hands aad
piteously asks the Republican party In
Washington not TO close MP the loop
hole Of escape left II by the action OF
the National Convention. Let rs
alone" said Its President the other day,
land we will show Congress whether or
not We are In good faith completing the
railroad" This Is radical change Of
attitude.
The Republican party of this Terri
tory cannot afford to meet and pass
upon the forfeiture question merely by
reafirming the resolution adopted by
the National Convention. The party
here Ia brought face TO face with mat
tiers within It's own knowledge. The
doctrine announced by the National
resolution has within this Territory
practical application. The lands which
are the subject matter OF the resolution,
TO the extent of about 100000 acres.
lie within its limits. II confirmed to
che company, they cannot be procured
by settlers by homestead, presumption
or purchase from the Government, but
must be obtained from the company, II
at all. at It's own prices, in such quanti-
ties, at such times and under such con-
diiions 40 its policy or interest may de-
terlnine. The question whether these
lands have been earned or shall be
earned by and confirmed to the COM
paay Ia vital to the people OF this Terri
tory because Of the effect that forfeiture
on the one hand and confirmation TO
the company on the other will have
upon nearly third Of its landed area.
The National Convention has declared
that IL the Northern Pacific has not in
good faith attempted to carry out the
provisions Of its charter, that portion of
its land grant not earned in conformity
thereto should DO speedily forfeited"
The question to be considered, then, IL
not. from q party standpoint, whether
generally. unearned lands can or should
be forfeited, but whether there are such
evidsnces of good faith upon the part
of the Northern Pacific as to justify an
exception in its favor. In short, the
question to be met and passed upon in
the Convention this week 10 Has the
Northern Pacific Railroad Company in
good faith attempted TO comply with
its charter provisions Has II, since
July 2, 1854. displayed energy. intelli
genoe and honesty in its efforts 10 build
railroad from the Lakes to Puget
Sound : This Ia the question which
the National Republican Convention
presents for answer. IL In q question
that must be answered by Congress In
any legislation had upon the subiest.
10 Ii the duty of the Republican PARTY
OF Washington Territory 10 declare L.
self upon the question 10 instruct It's
nominee TO Congress thereon. 80 that he
may ftly represent the views Of his
constituents. The people Of this Ter
ritory are deeply interested in this mat
tar. So also is the Republican party.
Upon the decision of its Convention
this week will hinge. In marked de-
gree. IL not indeed absolutely, It's suc-
cess or failure at the approaching elec-
tion. The views of this paper upon the
question have been fully and freely
given, not from local standpoint. not
with reference 10 the aspirations Of
smbitieus candidates, but in the inter
est, as we conceive, Of the whole people
Of this Territory. with q keen sense Of
responsibility and with fixed desire
and purpose to advocate strict justice
a. between the people. whose patrimony
10 the subject Of controversy, and the
company which We sincerely believe
has forfeited all legal and equitable
claim thereto.
We have declared-and have endeav-
ored 10 impress upon the readers Of this
paper the truth of our position that
that the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company has not in good faith en-
dsavored 10 perform the ssipulasions Of
lbs charter; that ID has not prosecuted
work with ordinary diligence that il