Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-10-29
DAILY POST INTElLIGEHcER'


.a-vho Notwithstanding the prominent
mart taken By tbsm last winter sno
spring in urging upon Congress the 1ns
sice and necessity Of forfeiture ie0'sls-
ion Il respect 10 the Northern Paesne
uussrnsd land grant, profess their de-
termination 20 support the declaration
OF the lsts Territorial Convention upon
this subjscs, By voting for its candidate
for Delegate. While not quess'onink
tbs motives or sincerity Of such msn.
thar - nov. We confess sn utter inaoii-
" 70 comprehend the sort Of reasoning
that brings them 20 socn dec's'on'
Hev any man Who believes that the I'M
earned land grant Of the Northern re-
clio should be forfeited, can support
platform that declares that y snonid
not. II in three years from January
1sss the Cascade branch shall Be CON-
plsssd, passes the understanding OF or
dinary mortals. The gentlemen REFER
red -, declared last spring that zoe
Northern Pacific had not kept fsisn
with either the Government OF the peo-
ple Of this Territory; that instead Of
usino the land granted for the intended
and legitimate purposes Of the gift, -
had grossly abused its trust and me-
elected It's plain duty. They claimed
that II was then subject 70 forfeiture,
that eqsity and Law combined 70 ds-
nand prompt action by the Govern
ment, and earnestly urged Congress 70
Deoislsse accordingly pass bill 70
that stIect then pending In the House
Of Representatives.
Nov. how ID the situationf Has u
changed since, with the endorsement
and With expenses paid in part BY some
Of these gentlemen, Mr.. White went ee-
fore the COMMITTEES on Public Lands OF
the House Of Representatives, a. the
agent and attorney Of this city and
county, IL there lees need today Tor
earnest effort 70 secure from Congress
the passage Of the bill then and now
pendipc before the House? The North
ern Pacific Company IL extending its
coal road 10 Green river and at the same
time advancing It's claim 10 half the
best and most valuable lands IN this
county. II will 90 before Congress on
its rsassembline in December, decias-
inc that as IL IL ao,s, In good faith"
continuing the construction OF lie road,
its land grant should not be disturbed.
The only difference between the situa-
tion now and that of eight months ago,
is that few more miles of railroad
have been built on the eastern end OF
the Cascade branch, and show OF con-
struotion attempted eastward frem
South Prairie on lie coal road.
The Republican platform, IL adopted
by the people through the election OF
Major Armstrong. viii declare 10 Con-
gress that instead o: favoring the pass
age % e ill 10 forfeit the unearned
grant Of this sluggish company. ma
jority Of the party and people of this
Territory are opposed to such leRisla-
ton; that instead Of enforcing against
that company the conditions of ia
charter by forfeiting all lands not
legally earned Hereunder, Congress
should give II three more years In which
10 obtain les whole grant save only the
portion from Waliula to Portland. Is
this the kind Of forfeiture these gentle
men have advocated or now favor2 Are
they prepared to declare by their votes
that they we're either insincere or wrong
last sprinRf Are they willing TO put
themselves on record as having changed
their views and purposesa So IL does
and must appear to the majority here.
Only five months ago the Chamber Of
Commerce Of this city took measures
we'll known TO Ice northumberland
10 present before the National Republi-
can Convention an idea of the enormous
quantity Of land withheld from sale
and settlement under Withdrawals in
favor of the Northern Pacific in this
Territory, and asking of that conven-
ton declaration in favor Of prompt
forfeiture and restoration TO the public
domain Of that and all other unearned
land grants. Conforming TO the ex
pressed wish of the people here and
elsewhere, the Republican Convention
30 declared. Later still, the Republi-
can Convention Of this county, in clear
and vigorous language, and at demand
Of certain Of these same gentlemen. de.
eiared In favor Of prompt and uncondi-
tional forfeiture of the Northern Pacific
unearned grant. Every Republican
candidate in King county was nomin.
ated upon and stands committed to that
platform. ID 10 Numerically opposed
In spirit. language, and would be In
practical effect, IL carried ont, to the
Republican Territorial platform. One
Is correct. the other wrong. How. then,
We ask again, can those Republicans
who MP 10 the day the Territorial Con-
vention met-nay. mp 10 the hour that
Its quesrly constructed platform of in.
eongruitiss was adopted-supported un-
conditional forfeiture, vote 30 negative,
10 nullify their principles publicly
avowed for months previous. and their
acts for nearly whole yearl We
challenge no mans sincerity. We ques-
ton no mans motives. Bat by what
process of reasoning can a man who be
lieves in the justice Of prompt and un-
conditional forfeiture. cast his vote for
q candidate standing on such platfcrn
rs that adopted At the late Territorial
Republican Conventionp
1T Pans No TAxEs.
frhaxa n ts<,s aAn ...fta. n a