The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-22
SEATTLE. THURSDAY, MARCH 22.
Territory or Colony.


In discussing the question Of the fu-
turs government Of our various island
possessions, there is a tendency among
many OF the critics OF Republican
policy, including some Republicans who
ought to know better, TO assume that
the territorial form Of government is
the ideal one, especially as contrasted
with the colonial form framed by the
British government for their outlying
possessions. This Is very far from
being the truth. As a literal fact, the
American territorial form Of govern
ment he's always been singularly unjust
and oppressive; It has violated the fun
damsntal principles OF government. as
inherited from our Anglo-Saxon ance3-
tors. and has only been acceptable as
temporary measure. designed to
bridge over tho interval between the
early settlement OF territory and tina
time when It was ripe for admission 10
fun fellowship as state. As per-
manent system for the government of
outlying territory. which there Is small
prospect of ever Incorporating into tha
union Of states. Il 10 one OF the very
worse. and fundamentally the least de-
feasible in principle. which has ever
been devised for q free people.
In thisasection of the country the peo-
pie have had an opportunity presented
nowhere else of contrasting the two
systems OF government in practical OPP
GRAFTON. and realizing how inferior the
territorial Is to the colonial system. In
the earlier days, when washington was
territory. British Columbia was
crown colony. In Washington the Gus
toms receipts, the collections from In
ternai revenue and all of the proceeds
OF the sales Of public lands were taken
by the federal government. From the
latter source alone millions were paid
into the federal treasury Every entry
of piece OF land under she presumption
or timber land law. and every purchase
OF offered land. meant the withdrawal
from circulation here OF from $500 20
$500 for each quarter section. The re-
ceipts from federal taxation were many
times greater than the disbursements
made by the federal government. All
the executive and judicial officers were
appointed by the president. ana as a
practically uniform rule such appoint
tnan,s MARA ,o.aase..,r. A. -...-t.
from the ranks Of politicians who had
no interest In the territory or any care
for Its welfare, Some remained here
after their terms Of Office expired but
many returned 10 their original homes.
The steady drain for the benefit os the
federal government upon the resources
81 the country. in the guIse of TAXATION.
and for payment for public lands. de-
prived the territory ~ large-an snor-
mously iarxe-ahare 81 the surplus can
isai which it was steadily creating. re-
tardsd It's growth. and delayed the DE-
velopment Of It's resources.
A, the came time the people o. the
territory had constantly before their
eyes the effect ot more liberal gov.
eminent British Columbia was then n
crown colony The imperial govern
rnent sn,erfered ia 10 manner with Il
save in The appointment % an cxeeu-
tive, whose powers were FAR more lin
tied than those ~ territorial gov.
ernor. Nos n single dollar Of rcvonus
or CT proceeds q sales % crown lands
was ever withdrawn from the colony FOR
ths eenea, Of the imperial government.
On the contrary. the imperial sovera-
ment was constantly dSbursing money
there for imperial purposes. Customs
and internal revenue receipts were al
taken by the colony Itself for It's own
domestic uses, and Us tArlIs were
based on It's own revenue necessities.
Both communities were practically
Isolated from the rest Of the world. for
IN those days no railroad had Yet cross
ed the borders OF either. The resources
Of Washington were infinitely richer
and more varied than those Of British
Columbia Yet IN the days 70 which ",
refer British Columbia was the richer
and more prosperous community Vic
toria was out of all comparison a bes
ter business point than Seattle. as 70,
trade was greater than that Of all tbs
Puget sound cities together. Aecumu'