Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-01-11
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, JAN. II, 1859.
Reasons for Making Haste Slowly.

Reasons for Making Haste Slowly.
The records i'll the Office OF the Territorial
Secretary show that two years ago Western
Washington cast 40 more votes than Eastern
Washington. while this year its majority over
easy TO guess in what part of the Territory the
emigrants are settling. The above ngures
show why the bunch grass fellows want TO tack
the Panhandle of Idaho on to this Territory.
II would make Puget Sound the tail of the po-
litical dog instead OF Eastern Washington as
now.-RereiHe.
The above extract shows just about
how much OF harmony and good feel
ing exists between the subdivisions OF
the Territory marked by the Cascade
range. such pet names as Bunch
grass Fellows" are not prompted by
the most fraternal OF impulses, nor is
the intimation that one portion OF the
future State must necessarily be the tail
Of the political dog, as one portion of
the Territory now is. The Reueille has
inadvertently given the best Of reasons
why Washington should be admitted
as two States, instead of one, and why
people should patiently wait little
longer, if need be, and be admitted
properly, with boundaries that will as
sumo adaptabilities for the rapid and
permanent growth of prosperous COM
monwealths.
There is much more danger in haste
on this momentous matter than in
the smaller affairs of life. We are lay
ing the foundations of great political
subdivisions that must endure through
time. We are to ground the funda-
mental principles of all ideal govern
ment in a written constitution. The
fabric erected upon it will owe its
stability and the well-being of its peo-
pie, to the care with which its powers
and limitations for the exercise of leg
islature and executive authority are
guarded. Progress demands the in
corporation of much not found in the
charters of other States. New thought
is evolved from questions that have
arisen during the rapid advancement
Of the age, and not only is mature and
calm deliberation demanded, in the
convention to frame the constitution,
but q most careful selection of our
wisest and best men to constitute
that august body. The nomination of
these men should be free from parti-
san bias, the election should be held
at time when the popular pulse beats
its natural pulsation, and they should
be allowed ample time to do their
work well and completely. So far, at
least matters should progress slowly,
and every step should be so carefully
taken that no possible chance may ex-
ist for mistakes. The time consumed
in judicious preparation may result in
. revelation, no less astonishing than
gratifying, from another object that
win be subserved. 1t may be that the
necessary lapse Of time will show an
accession to our population that will
place the matter in . new light, aud,
with all doubt of admission removed
~ two States with an adaqate number
OF people in each to entitle it to a
Representative in the lower branch OF
Congress. Our population will, in the
next twelye-months increase with re-
markable rapidity. If it should reach
the numbers so confidently predicted
by many who have carefully watched
the constantly swelling tide Of immi-
grafton, then We may with justice de:
mand the admission Of two States
without prejudice to either division Of
The Territory, and forever escape the
trouble that viii result from State
whose boundaries have been defined
withouta recognition of those natural
laws which apply to States as closely
- 70 individuals. The political power
Of tho coast would be materially aug.
mented by the increased influence
that would be swayed in the Senate by
the addition Of four Senators instead
oftwo, and the prosperity Of the whole
coast would be assured.