, 1886-04-08
Forthcoming Political Ise-es.

The La Conner Mail, speaking of
recent discussion Of the railroad ques-
ton in the ARGUS and in the Seattle
mugwump paper, gives utterauce TO
the following, which in our Judgment
comes about as near the line of CON-
mon sense as anything we have seen
in print yet:
The p J. takes high ground, but it
will be a difficult task for it to con-
vince Il majority of the people that the
so called Seattle idea" was not con
ceived in jealousy and begotten of
Splfshness. At the last election
Seattle, smarting under injuries, fan
cied or real. inflicted upon her by the
Northern Pacific railroad, retaliated
upon that corporation as she sup
posed, by defeating the republican
party. Had Seattle been made the
terminus, we would have heard moth
ing from that quarter about grasping
mOnopOlies. But although the "Seat-
tie idea" was begotten of selfshness
it does not follow that that idea is
wrong. Many a righteous movement
originates in selfish motives. We do
not believe in submitting to the ex-
actions of the Northern Pacific or any
other corportion, nor do we believe in
throwing any real obstacle in the way
of the early completion of railroad
across the Cascade range. The best
interests of the territory demand the
early completion of that road, and it
matters not the majority of the people
whether Seattle or Tacoma or neither
of them be made the terminus But
as great as is the need of this road
there is such thing as paying too
great price for it. Permitting the
Northern Pacific Railroad to run our
conventions and control our elections
by corrupt practices would be paying
too great price for it. Allowing
the Northern Pacific to retain its land
grant unconditionally would be pay
ing too great price for it. This
land should be carved out into homes
for the peoble. Provided this could
there could be no objection to the
proceeds derived from the sale of
these lands going to the Northern
Pacific if that would insure the build
ing of the Cascade division. Some
such provisions as follows would be
Ijust.both to the people and to the
railroad company:
1st. Allow the railroad corpora
ton to retain its grant, provided the
Cascade division is built and equip
ped within two years after the hold
ing ofSthe next convention, provided
that it is not to receive title to any
portion of the land until the road is
completed.
End. Restrict the amount of land
that it can dispose of to any one per
son to 320 acres and the price per
acre to whatever may be reasonable.
3rd. Forfeit all of its land not dis
posed of within three years after the
completion of the road, except what
may be necessary for depots, machine
shops, etc. Or if plan of this kind
is impracticable, throw the land open
to settlement under the homestead
and pre-emption laws and let the
proceeds bepaid to the Northern Pa
cific provided the Cascade division is
completed within certain time.
There is no mistaking the temper
of the people on this railroad ques-
uon. They are disposed to deal fair
ly with the Northern Pacific provided
they are fairly dealt with in return,
but let either of the political parties
surrender itself to that corporation
and at the next election its standard
bearer Will be showed under as sure
ly as the sun will rise tomorrow.