Douglas Island news., 1898-12-21
CITIZENSHIP IN ALASKA.


 We observe among our Alaska ex- changes a disposition to severely criti- cize congress for it's apparent neglect of Alaska and the long continued delay in granting to her inhabitants the leg islation she needs and to which she is justly entitled. Some of this criticism is no doubt merited and yet it should not be forgotten that the people of the territories of the United States have in part, if not altogether, suffered from the same neglect. The Congress of the United States is so large that it is an unwieldy body and it is difficult to secure any needed legislation until the people become thoroughly aroused and the great law making body is forced to action. In this connection we might say that owing to the unwieldiness of congress the whole people are deprived of their constitutional representation. Of recent years the speaker of the house has become so autOCratic and dictatorial that no measure can even be brought to vote without his con- sent. A representative must ask per mission of the speaker to be recognized by the "Lord" of the nation. We do not refer to this matter from politl- cal standpoint, because it matters not to what party the speaker may belong, the power which that officer assumes remains the same.
 But as for Alaska and her rights, it should be remembered that only with in few years has she become proml- nent and regarded with that respect to which she is entitled. It was only a few years ago that John Sherman, one of our greatest statesmen, opposed military aid to the people of Alaska to protect them against threatened inJu- ry by the Indians. At that time, he advised an abandonment of the dis trict by the whites; not, however, that he lacked ill sympathy for the people, but because he was totally ignorant of Alaska and her resources. Such gross ignorance, you will say, is ineXcusable, but we must take humanity as we find it. Many others shared the views of Mir. Sherman, but they were probably a little more guarded in expressing themselves.
 When the bill was before congress to pay Russia the purchase price for Alas ka, it was bitterly opposed by some of the supposed greatest statesmen in the country. Seward could see that in the future, the purchase would become a profitable investment and be approved by the people; there were few who be- lieved as he did, and it was only as a reward and expression of appreciation of the kindness of Russia towards the United States, for her influence in pre- venting the British government from aiding the South during the civil war, that the appropriation was made. Alaska has been so grossly unknown, that in part at least, it must be sug- gested as an excuse for the tardiness of congress.
 A territorial government for Oregon was opposed because the country was supposed to be worthless. The settle ment in that district was continued from 1899 to 1848 before the people were in territorial form of govern ment, and the bill for the admission of Oregon to the union was before con- gress for about two years.
 The Alaska of to-day dates back but few years, and the fact is that if the present congress will extend to her the needed legislation, which we doubt not she will do, we will be far more fortu' nate than many of the territories that are now among the brightest stars in the fap of Our uniOn