The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-04-23

CoNcKRNING A GREAT PUBLIC
INTEREST.


CoxcKKNrxG A GREAT PUBLIC
INTEREST.
There Il no more important duty
connected With the public interest than
thxt involved in the making Of state
cunstituiion. The work il OF a sort
demanding wisdom and PATRIOTS spirit
ii the highest order. Ordinary legis-
lation, important A. IL Ii. IL subject 10
eGsy End speedy revision. but the work
q The constitution maker IL OF more
durable quality. Its effect for good or
~ Il likely 10 be permanent and for this
reason there Ia unusual temptation 20
the selfish and the vicious and there
fors unusual need for vigilance on the
rart 81 the people. These very impor-
tant facts should be kept In mind In
the business Of naming delegates to
the constitutional convention soon to
meet In this territory. The only men
nt for this work are the very best men
ii the territory. Professional poll.
tirians, jobbers inpsrsonal or business
schemes and all others too selfish or
TOO narrow 70 see and 70 stand for the
general good as against private inter-
ests--sll this crew should be left at
home. The duty il too serious for
sueh agents. II calls for the best wis
dom and the most unsellish spirit, in
short for the best men Of the territory.
Admission into the union Ii of
course thing greatly to be desired.
but e should be borne in mind that
god government Is more important
than statehood. We can better afford
70 delay. to remain longer In the terri
tCfiai condition. than 10 become q
state under conditions unfavorabie to
the highest public interest. The Posr.
InrrLLIeKsoxK hopes. certainly, that
. constitution will be formulated
which 1t. in common with the best
citizenship OF the territory can cordi-
ally support, but II will not hs forced
into approval Of bad constitution By
its desire for admission. This, We be-
hcye, will be the sentiment OF the
voters Of the territory at large. They
VIII not allow the wish for statehood
to force them TO make tae bad begin
ming ef accepting constitution which
tails IN the essential points OF wisdom
and equity.
There are many signs that the inter.
asts ef greed are vigilant and active
with view TO ciIecsing the work of
the forthcoming convention. For ex-
ample. those who are planning to rob
the state OF its rich inheritance OF tide
land property. have effected close
organization for the protection of
their alleged rights rights in direct
opposition TO the interests Of the PEG.
pie and whose foundation lie wholly
IN tespass or fraud. Organization OF
the tide-land crowd, whatever its pro-
iessed purposes may 10. is really organ.
nation to corrupt The constitutional
convention. No reasonable man car.
under the circumstances. doubt il.
1he lands IN question are wo-sh now
anywhere from fifteen 10 iifty millions
81 dollars and their prospective value
y beyond estimate. Nobody knows
tAe value Of these lands 50 well as the
Erahlwrs and no enterprise, legitimate
or corrupt. will b spared In The effort
"a rob the state oil them. Their loss
would mean not merely the loss Of
thelr cash value but something very
much more important. II would put
upon commerce. which on is way
from sea 10 land or from land 10 sea
must cross the narrow tidelana strip.
perpetual tax. Ii would for all time
oe q limitation upon great interest SO
important in its relation 10 public
prosperity that it effects ihe pocket Of
every citizen.
Al Seattle, Tacoma and other places
en- the coast. where tie local interest
Is strong. it's possible thai Che tide.
land gfaAhers may secure the election
Oh delegates favorable 10 their interests
we very much fear this viii he done
Bat from those districts no, thus
vscsousiy effected. especially from
Eastern Washington, We may leos Tor
men nrm for the public interest in this
ude-land matter. The producers II
Eastern Washington whose interests
viii especially be effected may he ex.
reciesi 10 stand between the grahhers
and the Interests Of the paalie.
The fesT- iSrnAsst. sSrrR viii hax.
much more to say concerning thl,
tide-lsnd question. which II regards as
The most important now before the
people OF the territory. ltiS clear sha,
there i TO DC AN eiTass TO rob the state q,
its tiie-lsadS. This we think weal,s ls.
the greatest material misfortune thai
could hefall the commonwealth NO,
heeaase of the immediate money les,
involved, but heesuse Ell sAe rxlas es..
ship o. these lands tsuating and ada
to car ports Of commerce, te the rrrai
and ail.imporsant interests II cen,
sneres.