Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-21
Is the Agent QualifedP


| Feeling, no doubt, the necessity of eradi-
eating some defect of administration, known
or unknown. he has named an agent to In
vesttgate. But Is that agent qualified by
! citizenship, long residence or experience to
| perform the great work before him with
proper intelligence? If a stranger to the
wants and needs of the oppressed Is to be
| intrusted with the care of reformation are
| the prospects of the sufferer improved or
| his hopes greatly encouraged? Or did the
+ President forget to instruct his agent that
| inaiienable rights belong to the people in
side the District of Columbia well as
| to those in the states? How can it be pos
sible that any other than a republican or
| representative form Of government, pure,
simple and honestly administered, with
| proper restriction upon voters should be es-
| tabliShed for Washington, to be foStered
| and protected by the strong influence and
| power of Congress?
Our Constitution provides that the
| United States shall guarantee to every
state in the Union a republican form Of
| government The District of Columbia Is
| not state, yet surely the spirit of the
| Constitution, If not it's letter, is applicable
| here as well as elsewhere, and 1t is be-
| lieved that the trainers Of the Constitu-
| ton never supposed that Congress would
| deprive $4,000 people in the District of
| Columbia OF the right to enjoy a republic
| can or representative form of government
provided that such local form Of govern
ment when established shall be subordi-
| nate to article IT, section 8, of the Con-
| stitution, which provides that Congress
| shall exercise exclusive legislation in all
| cases whatsoever over such District (not
| exceeding ten miles square, as may by
cesslon Of particular states and the ac
| ceptance of Congress, become the seat of
government of the United States
The power Of Congress over the terri
| tories Of the United States is as complete
as supreme, as it is over this District,
power of local government in these ter
| ritories? The people in the territories
| are, in all cases, vested with full power
| and authority to conduct their own local
| affairs. They elect their own legislators
| appoint their own assessors and collectors
| of revenue. Their officials are citizens
| identified in interest and feeling with the
| masses of the people whom they serve.
! The Only Way.
| Why not adopt the same course of
policy in the government of the District
| Of Columbia? The laws passed by a ter
| ritorial Legislature, it is true, are subject
| to alteration or revision by Congress- But
how many of them, l ask, are actually
| changed in any respect by Congress? Not
one in a thousand of territorial enact
ments are condemned by Congress- And
| this fact alone is now proof if more were
| needed, that self government is the only
government allowable among the American
people, because it is the only government
| under which impartiality and justice are
possible.
1t is always dinned into the ears of a
misguided people that it might be worse
| 1t is said by some that our Commissioner
! system of government saves the people
| from all the trouble of elections and from
| all the cares and responsibilities Of MAX
! ing and administering the laws. The most
| perfect exemptions from such cares are
| to be found In autocracy-a govern
| ment administered by an absolute mon
| arch. Such a government may suit him
| who is content to be slave, but it will
| be short-lived among those who wish to
| be free.
The Constitution also provides that
| Congress shall exercise like authority over
| all places purchased by the consent Of the
| legislatures of the states in which the
| same shall be, for the erection Of forts
magazines, arsenals, dock yards and other
| needful buildings.
| Why should a like authority be exer-
| cised here find 1t exercised by the
| government over the territory acquired for
| forts, arsenals. ma gaines and dock yards?
| Surely the situation Is entirely different
| Does Congress do all that may be neces-
| sary and proper in behalf of the District
| of Columbia with due regard for the spirit
| and the letter of the Constitution when 1t
! proceeds to violate the compact made In
| 1873, by neglecting to pay half of all
| authorized expenses. taxes the people ad
| libitum without providing for representa-
| ton, and refuses to permit them to enjoy
| the advantage of republican form of
government, 1t is required to guarantee
| to the people of the states throughout our
| country
| Patriotism Not Encouraged.
| spirit of patriotism is not encouraged
l or promoted here or else where by this