The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-15
THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.
A Renewal of the Foolish Talk of Re-
moving 1t Out West.
New York Sun.

That the federal capital must be removed
from Washington to some favored spot in
the blooming West Is the demand of
new political junto formed in Kansas un-
der the name OF the Independent Amer
lean party. which Is 10 hold convention
az Topeka IN September. 1t is old
question about which there is always talk
among the Westerners. 1t was strongly ad-
vccated after the close of the second war
with England, during which the British
captured the city of Washington and
burned the Presidents house, the Capitol
and other public buildings. Its early adj
vocates maintained that the capital of
the United States ought not to be near
the seaboard, where, In the event of war,
II was liable to be seized by an enemy, but
should be. located in the interior. where
X would be safe against foreign assault.
The main argument of the more recent
advocates of the change is that the capt.
tai ought TO be at or near the geographical
center OF the country, perhaps in the State
OF st. Louis were fond of holding up their
city as the best possible place for IL, but
latterly different opinion has come into
man or woman in Kansas can now argue
from morning until night that Topeka is
the proper location for il. Put your fin
says a Kansan. land then measure the
distance from the easternmost point of
the State Of Maine. on one side to the
ington on the other side. and from the
northern boundary of Minnesota to the
southern boundary of Louisiana. If You
do you will he as sure as latitude and longi-
tude that Topeka is at the geographical
center OF the United States. or close
enough to it for all practical purposes.
Then, again, look how population is tramp
In view OF this argument. there need not
be any doubt as to which place I'm the West
viii be designated as the only fit one for
American party of Kansas. which is to meet
In, convention at Topeka next month.
Inc question Is OF NO account. though IL
may amnse the new Kansas party after the
crops have been harvested. For variety
of reasons. the federal capital is pretty
sure to remain at Washington until that
city is very much older than 1t yet is. Its
removal Is not living question.
1t may be worth while. however. to mark
the circumstances that there is hardly any
country in the world the capital or seat
geographical center. Look upon the map OF
England for London. or upon that of Russia
for St Petersburg, or upon that of France
for Paris. or that of Germany for Berlin.
or that OF Austria for Vienna Turn to
Asia and look upon the map of China for
Peking, or upon that OF Persia for Teheran,
or upon that OF the British-Indian empire
look upon Brazil for Rio de Janeiro. or upon
that of Argentina for Buenos Ayres. or that
OF Venezuela for Caracas. or that of Peru
its capital. the seat OF its government
There are few OF the lesser countries of
the world the CAPITALS of which are near
their geographical center: but the capital
at the center of its territory.
The city of Washington NAV properlv
stand where is has so long stood as the seal
IL is much nearer the center OF population
and consequently of political power. as also
of commerce, than Is Topeka or any other
place beyond the Mississippi: aid that Is
consideration of more Importance than it's
situation upon the map