The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-18

Canadian Pacific form the most important
factor.
OUR RORETGN CEHsORs.
While there has been practical unanimity
in Europe among the newspapers generally
and among the public men who have ex-
pressed opinions, that Secretary Blaine has
gotten decidedly The best of Minister
Rndini in their late controversy, there is
scarcely less unanimity among these our
foreign critics as to the effectiveness Of
our governmental system in respect to
matters in the lire Of that controversy.
The most liberal of them are not more
than half satisfied with our notion Of
governing ourselves and our communities
locally IS to strictly local affairs, and
nationally only in respect to matters that
are strictly national. But there is nothing
in our governmental system to which our
people, especially those Of New England
and the other older states, are more
unalterably welded than to this notion.
And wherever they go, into whatever new
community they may help to establish,
they carry with them this notion as a
priceless treasure.
On no pretense OF nationality does the
man of Maine. New Hampshire or Massa-
chusetts want his compatriot of Washing
ton, South Carolina or Texas to dictate
or in any manner interfere with the local
laws Of Maine, New Hampshire or
Massachusetts, as to the disposition Of
murderers or robbers whose crimes are
committed within those states And
should any Of these transfer their resi-
dence to another state, they would be
equally sensitive to dictation or interfer-
ence from Maine, New Hampshire or
Massachusetts, with like affairs in the new
home Of their adoption.
1t would be far easier for a combination
Of foreign governments to accomplish the
task of invading and subjugating our whole
country, than for any possible combina-
ton of foreign critics to induce any
thoroughbred and thoroughly grounded
American citizen to swerve by SO much as
hair's-breadth from his tenacious devo-
ton to this idea Of exclusive local control
of exclusively local affairs.
Our people have an unalterable belief
that it is better thus; that the ends of
justice and good order are more surely
subserved by having court and jury of
the yicinage, acting in conformity with
laws enacted for and adapted thereto,
dispose of the crimes committed in the
locality, than to have the general govern
ment attempt the task for the whole
country. And visitors from abroad who
are assimilable with our people, law
abiding and order-loving, invariably and
quickly adapt themselves to these condi-
tions and share these views. Among
these the primal American idea Of exclus-
lively local control of exclusively local
affairs becomes at once as fondly embraced
and as precious as it is to the natives and
older residents with whom they assimilate.
II 1t should ever happen that our people
rs whole, through their President or
Secretary Of State, should issue q special
gilt-edged invitation to a particularly
distinguished italian bandit, or Russian
nihilist, or English Jack the Ripper to
cut loose from the cruel laws and irksome
surveillance of their respective govern
ments, to visit our shores and pursue
their respective callirgs under special
guarantees of national protection, all
would admit the propriety of special
provisions of federal law against any
interference with or injury to them under
the operation of local law.
But so long as no such special invita-
tons are extended, and they come I'M
asked and voluntarily, and with presumed
full knowledge of our absurd peculiarities
about the drawing of line between
national and local affairs, and in con-
formitv with those peculiarities are
granted equal protection with native
born citizens, they have no just ground
for complaint, nor have their govern.
ments on their account, if equally with
the native-born they are made amenable
TO local law, or to such other little incidents
rs may result from their tampering with
local law and preventing its enforcement
against themselves.
If Americans of the Jesse James or hobo
type should voluntarily quit our shores to
invade Italy or other European states,
even though denied the privilege of na,ur-
alization in the country thus invaded, and
for pursuit of their home vacations should
be brought 10 grief and an ignominious
death, II is highly improbable that our
government would engage in any war
buster. or demand a change in the form OF
government, or make any anxious inquiry
whether they had been disposed of under
national or local law or by the impulse of
a justly outraged populace. As TO the two
alleged non-natnralixed victims of the New
Orleans affair this illustration is far more
pat than were any of those submitted to
our Minister Porter by the irascible Count
D'Arco.
AT all events it is quite apparent that
there is 10 be no remodelling of American
institutions on the demand of foreign gov
ernmcats or critics. nor any payment of
damages until accounts are fully and
fairly balanced in our own time, our own
way and according 10 our own ideas of Jus
tice, which must be free from dictation by
foreign governments or critics. That APP
pears to be the sentiment of the American
people. as represented by him 10 whom
they have contided their helm of state.
-
Hon. p. +. Elder, Speaker of the Kansas
House of Representatives. has published
denial of certain charges that were made
against him and the BODY over which he