The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-01-02
THE ELIgSssUEGH CONVEX
TIOx.

The Interest VII b has been mani
fes,ea throughout the Territory leaves
no room for ,ioabt shs, the statehood
convention. waeh Is called to meet az
giiepshurrh tomorrow, VIII be sue
ces. The eities Of the territory have,
with few exceptions, shown Their IN
.srest Ia the movement By choosing
delegate. as well a. IN other ways
and the convention wiz unquesiiona-
biy number among IT. members many
Of the most able and influential citi-
zena 81 the territory This fact affords
a sufficient guarantee that the deii0-
erations of the body viii be guided BY
wisdom. and that whatever action II
NAV take will he such a. viii commend
itself to the people 81 the territory.
few weeks ago il appeared that II
woaId be the part Of wisdom for the
people 70 send to Washington a num-
her Of influential citizens gho could
nrouefly present 10 congress the claims
OF Washington for admission. Tbs
was probably the action which those
who called the Eliensburgh eonyen-
zion had in view. II appeared then
that With a determined and weil-sE's-
tanned effort the passage OF an adm =
sion bill at this session OF congress could
be secured. The Democrats. stunned
and Iismayed by their defeat, were
apparently a. a loss TO determine how
the admission question should be
treated. Most Of them realized that
they had made grieyous mistake IN
their past treatment Of the question
and many OF them we're willing to
waive sal objections TO the admission
of the Territories, hoping TO secure Tor
their party some credi, for this act Of
Justice. tsrdy though il might he. 1t
seemed not only possible bat probable
that a well -direcied eiFor, might bring
n suilicie-t number Of Democrats over
10 the Republican side to make posi-
bic the prompt admission Of Washing
ton. Montana and the two Dakoias.
Now. however. the situation -
changed. The Democratic party has
re-erystaliized. Ithas decided upon
line Of action in regard TO the Terri
tories, and il l. plain that that line is
not one which contemplates immediate
admission a. a probable contingency.
That the Democrats will again frankly
pppo.e the admi. ion OF Territories be
cause they are Republican is not prob
able. but they will trifle and delay and
thus will lie able to prevent admission
without making their attitude too
plainly apparent 20 the outraged PEG
pie OF the Northwest.
The question has once more assum-
ed political aspect and it will be
settled by party action II the pass
age OF any admi-si ion bill Is secured at
this session, IL viii he as 9 matter OF
compromise, and nothing that the
people OF the territory can do viii as
sist in bringing Il about. In such a
state OF affairs il would plainly be use
less for the people Of this territory TO
send a delegation 10 Washington.
Such q move would only entail au ex-
pense upon the public spirited people
OF the territory without accomplishing
anything commensurate with the out
lay. II would do no harm 10 send 4
delegation 90 Washington. but mani
testify it would do no good. The fate
OF Washington Is in the hands OF the
Democratic leaders in the lower house,
and their course sill not be influenced
in the slightest degree, by the wishes
OF the people Of the territory. or by
ans repre-enta,i which they may
make at the natl nal capital.
The convention. therefore, should
Dot send a delegation Is Washington.
II will do much better by combining IL
self % the adoption OF an address to
congress aud - the country. setting
forth n digniiie3 terms thedemaud Of
Washington for admission, and the
ground upnn which il D. based