Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-17
DAILY poST.INTEluGENcER
ANSeYING.

Nothing il more annoying than 20 Be
misreprssented. To some extent con-
munities are liable to be Temporarily
placed in false position by portions
of their public press. Eventually how
ever. all such evils right themselves
The following from the Tacoma Hs~s
shows at a glance the position IN vnicu
the city Of Seattle 10 unfortunately
placed by the utterances OF one OF IT.
journals, assuming to speak Tor TINS
community. II has reference to the
"ooen letter" recently addressed by the
Northern Pacific branch in Seattle 70
the head offise of thai company IN SeN
York:
The following letter from the Seattle
Herald is pubIisned for what Il Is woftn'
az mart of the record Of that city ON
the railroad question. Ii II unnecessary
Ia characterize the epistle. IL interprets
itself. as we'll a. the ludicrous positson
in which Seattle has been placed py iss
public journals.
The point IL well made by 'ne 'eH'
did the Herald represent the public sen
timent Of this community We should Dc
a collection of the biggest fools on the
face of the green earth. We should DC
charactsrless, inconsistent, revsnsefui'
obseauious, validating, cowardls' ao-
surd and idiotic. there Is no DOUBT OF
IL. This community. under sush CHI
cumstances, ought TO be and would be
public laughing stock. We should be
UPON all sides of all questions, giVihR
good reasons for nothing. We should
shameIessly betray each other, and be a
community Of backbiters and hypo-
critics.
The sentiment Of the people of Seat
tie has not changed upon the subject OF
land grant forfeiture. 1t Is today as
unvayerinoly and as strenuousiy In
favor of the forfeiture OF all land
grants to corporations, not earned Ia
strict compliance with the granting
acts. AZ i, has been at any previous
time. Every effort in that direction
has been made in accord with, ana
prompted by, vast majority Of this
people. There is today no division. We
have submitted our case TO Congress
and await and must abide the result
Meanwhile We await at all times and
will welcome and use the opportunity
to strengthen the hands of our friends
In that body.
We are aware OF the underlying mo-
tiyss which have prompted the North
srn Pacific Railroad Company TO secure
an opportunity 10 be unoffcialiy heard
through one Of the daily papers of this
city. The idea is shrewd. That com
pany does not suffer for want of shrewd
manipulators. 1t employs sharp agents
who make keen bargains. IL does not
matter TO the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company in what light the utteraAces
of its organ are regarded here IN Seat
tie. Il 10 not endeavoring to convert
this community nor TO induce Seattle Il
commit hari- kari. What that COMPANY
seeks 10 to create the impression abroad
not merely In Washington Territory
but-by judieious distribution--in the
Congress of the United States, thai
there 10 radical, widespread and grow
ing revulsion Of feeling in this city and
county with respect TO the forfeiture Of
It's unearned land grants; that thi'
community Is divided that, to sum up
the people Of Seattle are sick of the
contest and eager 10 surrender ant
make peace at any price.
That this sort Of strategy will hav,
some effect cannot be doubted. Strang
srs abroad, who may chance to read th'
recent ntteranoes Of this railroad pape
here, do not know that 10 does not truth
fully represent the sentiment Of thi
community; that because Of Its markes
inconsistencies il has ceased 10 DO local
ly influential; that, in fact. its utter
ances upon the forfeiture question ar
desienedly unloading and evidently In
spired by the company II Ia endeavorinI
TO serve. Such readers therefore oh
tain lost the impression intended. The,
do 80 because unacquainted with thi
people, the Hera!ds history and th'
peculiarities of it's course. Il is unfor
tunate that In community b olosel!
united upon vital matter such an Gle
ment sheuld obtrude itself and by indi
rect methods falsify well settled pub
Ito conviction.
This, although shrewd, is by M
means new method Of warfare. Mr.
O. p. Huntington, In his interestin,
correspondence with his friend Cotton
ssnce deceased, alluded TO this sort o
thing when he wrote; 1T looks nov q
II you would be able TO cave Pickering
aud Fitch down the bank" MIR. Picker
ing representing the San Francisco Bai
lstin and Mr.. Fitch the Call. Gavin,
down che bank has been most success
fully used by the Central Pacific. an,
with other methods OF that peerless
ompany Of banditti has bean adop.es
by its evident admirer aud would b