The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-25
The Grazing Ban.

.'f Az ohAr<aAfF' A~sss t,tf~ -
Expressiens of opinion by the state
press, and Communications to the Possrs
Intelligepcer which appear thif MORN
ing. show that there is difference OF
opiRiof Oh the'merits Of tHe7bih intro
duGed in the United States senate to
authorize the leasing OF, public lands
for grazing purposes: ,g1hns far the
balance of public sentiment seems to
be AGAINST the imeasure.nsf,g 40
Only study OF the details of the-bill
whose general substance Is all that has
yet appeared, could authorize the an,
nouncement of a definite and final judy
ment. At present however. any one
who is mindful Of the public interest
can see that Nc SUCH leglsla ton sis' de-
sirable,ei should be guarded with the
UTMOST care TO prevent II FROM .hecoms
ing an Instrumental advantage to the
corporation as against the small far
mer. rrt. s -,ys-.s.
1t does not appear clearly what inter-
est is .tobe served sbyfsase ersastnentsof
law toleass public lands for this use
The motive idn the surface. and. the ono
so far insisted upon. is the providing
Of a revenue from It's estates to the BAD
eral government. This iswholly, insHtfi-
cfent. rot to say improper These lands
ara held ,sin a sense, In trust by the ma
S.t- Iaa4t
ton for the, people, We do not need to
make themreHt-producfi1g nor is'it In
accord with national tpolicy. srAs well
permit the leasing of mineral lands, for
a. nominal sum. and shut eat the pfosl
peetor' while the Observation-Disclosures
tain control of ali probable sources OF
mineral wealthsSiga ~ II sagsss'r R.ts
{ It as held by,Eone correspondent that
-hiclosures for grazing purposes would
actually improve pasturage and pre-
vent the reversion, of the land to saga
brush ana cactus on, the other hand,
the protest Of the small farmer, the
man whosdssires freespasturage for his
fiocks ON soil belonging to the whole
people. is earnest ana inteiligibis.T So IL
the objection TO inxasion by. sheep
farmers OF the Mount Rai1iet;parks
This much az least rs Certain: that
the enactment Of such BIN provides
an opportunity witch capitalfsfs and
heavy interests could Improve to adt
vantage. The individual settler" could.
not lease and ihclose small areas with
our aifficuIty and expense. T II the main
purpose is realized, namely the receipt
of considerable revenue by the Fed
eral treasury, which we have said fsiar
insufficient reason for action unless It
can be shown to be to the interest of
our small farmers and stockmen. then
1t can be only by leases and Enclosures
on large scale, by great corporations
or wealthy syndicates, Any proposition
which shows this upon Its face; how
EVER s worthy it's purpose and whatever
incidental benefits it'may carry, should
be scrutinized' carefully. discussed thor
oughly by those whom it will affect. and
should not be sanctioned unless II Is
very certain to- promote the INTEREST
comfort and wealth of the great body
Of small settlers in this state.
Mr.. Sulzer is still giving vent to his
feelings, for political purposes only. His
devotion to the right does not prevent
him from repeating publicly the deliber-
ate falsehood that the administration is
in. sympathy with. England as against
the, Beers. ...,. ,..-,
,s,q A Navy as Peace Factor. siir
The influence of a. great navy as a
more strikingly illustrated than it is
at present in the case of England. OF
the great powers of the continent of
Europe there is ot-ene~ which Is not 'n
sentiment actively hostile to Great Britt
ain; not one which would not be glad
Of an opportunity to take advantage Of
power to pay off old scores. or to carry
| out ambitious projects of territorial ag7
grandizement heretofore checked by
fears of British Interference It Is
! known that practically the entire disci7
pinned military force of Great Britain,
aside from the native Indian army. Is
required to deal with the Roers in South
| Africa. and Is proving none too great
| fortthe task in hands, Russia must feel
| that now. il ever, is her opportunity in
! the far East. France recalls, with fiery
resentment. the Fasheda tincident. the
| manner in which she has been coolly set
! aside in Egypt, and many an ancient
! grudge. Germany has hen own griey-
ances, which are being augmented
| constantly by the seizure of German
vessels engaged in the African trade,