The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-27

then IL at tbatltime reverence for the prin-
ciples embodied in the constitution and
devotion 70 the idea Of union had been a.
strong = now. But more significant still,
in the SAND direction, Is the fact that Of
the fifty-fve attending the convention and
who took part In ito proceedings, only
thirty-nine signed, and sixteen did not
sign the constitution - adopted.
Nor did this close the evidence Of dim
appreciation Of that instrument and Of the
union which it cemented and perfected.
Between the ratification Of the constitu-
ton by Delaware-which was the first to
ratify-and that by Rhode Island. which
was the thirteenth and last, there was an
interval of two years and 1--WE months,
with the other eleven dragging along
and dropping in with an air OF ap-
parent indifference whether they
were to have constitution and union or
not. And even thus the vote for ratifica-
ton was in several notable instances far
from unanimous. In Pennsylvania it was
IS to q, or just one-third in opposition; in
Connecticut LIB to 20, in Maryland IS to
II, in New Hampshire 81 to n. in Virginia
50 to 70, in Massachusetts, 1877 to 1853. in
North Carolina 1893 to Is. in South Caro-
lima 40 to 70. in New York 50 to Is, in
Vermont los to 4. and only in three states,
Delaware, New Jersey and Georgia was the
ratification unanimous
Seventy years after Rhode Islands rati-
fcation Of matters about which the men
of that day were 90 dllatory, indifferent
and divided, love Of the constitution and
union had grown and intensified until
their preservation was deemed mono TOO
dear at the sacrifice of million lives and
the expenditure Of thousands Of millions
Of treasure. Nor were there any delays Of
years or months in reaching . conclusion
to make any necessary sacrifice for their
preservation.
Moreover, although the constitution thus
tardily ratified made the United States
guarantee to each state republican form
Of government, some Of the ratifying
states gave equal and much longer con-
tinued evidence Of indifference to that pro-
vision. It was thirty years in Connecticut
and fifty-two years in Rhode Island after
their ratification Of the federal constitution
before they adopted state constitutions.
During all those years they conducted
their affairs in conformity with royal
charters, which surely could not have con-
formed either to the letter or the spirit of
"a republican form of government"
Nor, a. to Rhode Island, was this by any
means the worst Of IL. In that state,
after It had drifted along for more than
fifty years under the federal constitution
without state constitution or . republi-
can form Of government, the leader-Dorr
lin an attempt to correct these conditions
BY vote Of the people, was actually con-
victed Of high treason and sentenced to
imprisonment for life.
Prior to that time the ''rotten borough
system" transplanted from England, but
of which England has pretty effectually
rid herself, prevailed in Rhode Island, and
was buriesque on representative govern
ment. Az an illustration, Newport, with
1888 inhabitants, had representatives in
the legislature, while Providence, with
S,l72 of population, had but 4. This same
borough system il still perpetuated in Con-
necticut, in pursuance of constitution
handed down by 1.-THE fathers" OF 1918. 20
that 900 Of population in certain towns
have las representatives, while $1,000 in
other towns have but III.
Such conditions do not exist in any of
the new states. Attachment to the true
principles Of the constitution and to the
union, and to the republican forms and
principles of government, has become 30
much stronger, and clearer, and broader
than among men freshly emerged from the
colonial condition, that no new state could
be admitted with constitution containing
such provisions. All Of which proves that
We have been growing and improving, not
only in population and wealth, but in APP
probation of and devotion to the constitu-
ton, the union and the true principles Of
republicanism.