The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-10
THE STATE AND sEATrLE.
Judge Lewis on tho Relation OF the
Commonwealth to Its Chief City.
Avs 1907


SEATTLE, Aug. 9, 1891
To THE EDITOR: submitted to your readers
few days since an article az to Seattle and the
state. ! now propose to submit my views on
the reverse OF my former communication.
The state in its aggregate combines the execu-
tive, legislative aud judicial departments OF
government represented by the several servants
Of the people a sovereigns. These several
branches representing the sovereignty are de-
signed, acting within the limits OF the censtisu.
ton. 70 promote the general good ana protecs
the rights of the individual citizcn.
Tho legislative branch 10 primarily OF the
most Importance, for from IL emanate the laws
sence OF wholesome laws the state governments
will be failure. Among the many evils incl
dents to state governments were those OF special
or class legislation whereby individuals aga COM
munities were built up or pulled down By iesis.
lative enactment To cure this evil sectaon 70
of article 2 OF our state constitution was
adopted. and under our system OF state gov
eminent class and local legislation ars
almost wholly prohibited. and our
legislators are now restricted to sucn
legislation as tends to the general good
OF the whole state. Whatever. therefore, 10 OF
public importance and affects the public a. con-
tradistinguished from the individual, ID proper
matter for legislation. Among matters con-
coded TO come within this scope are schools,
roads, bridges-not because the whole people
use them. but for the reason that they are opsn
and free to the whole state. A public road or
bridge ahording to the residents OF . school dis
trict means to 60 to and from their schooihouses
though in remote part Of the state. 10 as clearly
within the province Of state legislation O. q
public way from the capital to other eiues
within the state.
The state IL an aggregate of the precincts,
cities and counties within its borders, and who
ever attacks one Of these members in effect at
tacks the commonwealth. While 1t IL true tnas
within the several cities and counties OF the
state there may be and II controversy touching
local matters, such matters are properly LETT to
the judgment of each community, but whatever
concerns the whole body polite II proper mat
ter for the consideration of the state.
The state speaks with the voice OF command
in the enactment of laws; It settles It's policy
aud carries It out wholly Independents Of par.
sons or combinations without its limits. Trea-
son to the state consists in ''sdhering TO its
enemies or in giving them aid and comfort"
For the purposes of this article will speak
only of the enemies of the state across it, b0ro'
ers, who are now engaged in an attack upon our
state policy, to-wlt: That Of the Development
and improvement of its rivers and harbors.
This enemy. located In the city on the vii.
lamette, seeing that . populous community ana
fourishing city has grown up on Puget sound.
and whose people are gathering In q large part
of the business which formerly went to that
city. Is now engaged in . most wanton and out
rageous attack upon the city of Settle and her
people. The duty Of the state Is to resent this
insult, and to do 50 In such language AZ will
convince the Oregontdn that We are 10 earnest
and intend to shape our own policy, enact our
own laws and work out our own destiny INDIE
pendent of and uninfluenced by attacks with
out The Oregonioa's owners must b taught to
conhne its bulldoxing to its own ssate. IL
Oregon wants to improve the Willamette SO
as to make It navigable to the Columbia
and to improve the Yamhill from McMinnville
to the Willamette and make . harbor at Coos
bay or elsewhere, let it do 30. We shonld not
interfsre-we should not even object TO the I'M
provement of the santiam. Get what you can,
gentlemen, from the nation, for the improve
ment of your creeks and rivers and harborA
But we insist that when We ask the aid OF our
national government through our lezislatoss
and United States senators for the improvement
Of our harbors and rivers, that you keep your
hands of
The building of the Lake Washington canal IL
matter of state policy; 1t II . matter which
affects the whole public; IL opens that large
body Of fresh water to the commerce OF the
world and furnishes . harbof wherein the ship.
ping of all nations may lie in safety, and on
whose shores the ships and railroads may meet
aud interchange their freiguta.
This improvement has heretofore received the
ereignty. Shall We be driven from its support
in future by the Vaccinations Of our enemies
without. aided by politicians withinf Men. cit.
liens of our state, engaged In combinations with
its enemies. and giving them aid and COM
fort In consideration Of support In the conven-
tons and state legisatures are guilty OF treason
against the policy and prosperity OF tbs state.
We insist, then, that the state give TO the
Lake Washington canal the same support that
It gives to the improvement of its other rivers
and harbors, not because the lake IL situate In
King county, but because King county II part
of the state. and her people arc entitled to the
same consideration az the people Of any other
county within the state.
The remarkable spectacle 10 now presented OF
a political combination at Olympia seeking to
build up the fortunes of its members by IN at
tack upon King county. VIII the combination
winf trust not The result we await with
anxiety. Gentlemen of ths Republican conven.
ton, what think you Of this matter7
J. r. LKWIA