Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-23
SPEAKS OF SUFFRAGE
Former Senator Henry w.
Blair Gives His Views.
GOVERNMENT IS DESP0TIC
People of the District Taxed With.
out Representation.
RULE MAY BECOME OPPRESSIVE
Comment on Diverse Suggestions as
to Nature Of Change-Re-
view Of Action.
RULE MAY BECOME OPPRESSIVE

Il am glad to see continually coming
to the surface through the press. pub
| lie meetings and private discussions evil
dences of the deep. widespread and in
creasing interest of the people of the
District of Columbia In their anomalous
relations to the power by which they are
governed. 1t is ceratinly time that a
| community of 100000 of the most worthy
and intelligent citizens of this great re-
public should become participants in the
political power which by the theory of
our free institutions should be distributed
to every American citizen.
AT present the people of this District
are not only taxed without representa-
ton. but their persons as well their
property, both in peace and war. are
subject to a government whose power
over them, however friendly for the time
being. is absolutely despotic in form. and
may at any time become oppressive.
Chief Source of Danger.
Probably the existing system could not
be represented by better men: in fact.
one of the chief sources Of danger In
the continuance Of the system arises from
the fact that the personnel Of the Com
missioners who represent it. is so COM
| petent and commendable.
II notice that there Is much diverse
| suggestion as to the nature of the change
which should be made in the form of
| District government If any. Some desire
simply to substitute one commissioner or
governor for three. Others to add to the
present form a delegate to represent the
| District in the House of Representatives
and before committees, with talking but
no voting power. Others the Subst1tu-
ton for existing conditions Of city or
municipal government based upon sur
frage universal or qualified.
'All these forms of government nave
already been fully tried and tested dur
ing the last hundred years, and. l think
1t is fair TO say that they have all failed.
Forms Tried All Bad.
Some temporary amelioration of con-
ditions which from long continuance had
developed insufferable evils has been
found in successive changes from one to
the other: but believe it is historically
demonstrated that they are all bad and
further experience with any of them
would only demonstrate which is worst.
Unless as merely temporary arrange
ment while the main battle is pending,
1, do not think that any change is worth
the powder necessary to blow up the ex-
listing state Of things. which does not go
to the bottom of the difficulty and confer
upon the citizens Of the District of Co
tQ0lT equal SudIc VI Sovereignty
as American citizens. including the exer-
else of the right to vote. not alone In
their municipal and local concerns, but
also in the choice of the national legisla-
tive and executive power. thus giving to
the people of this District fun participa-
ton In the workings of the government by
| which they are controlled.
Such a change might require a consti-
tutional amendment, for it is difficult to
see how otherwise there could be additions
made to the Senate, House and electoral
college; but there would be such a soul
inspiring impulse to stir the hearts of
freemen to action in the effort, that
believe the whole nation would rise to
the occasion and that this really great
thing could be more easily accomplished
than some minor change which would
afford no permanent relief.
Action Suggested in 1888.
ION the Sd or 4th of April. 1883. intro
duced joint resolution in the Senate pro-
posing such changes in the Constitution
as would make the people of this District
part of the American nation in the man
ner above indicated. 1 had prepared it in
substance some time previous. and 1t
had been circulated among the friends of
suffrage. favorably considered and in
and others, but 1t was not acted upon by
that Congress, and I again introduced it
with some notifications in the month of
December. 1889. and on the 18th of Sep
TENDER. 1880. ! made speech in its sup
port, in which I discussed the subject at
some length. All this appears in the Con-
gresSional Record and may be referred to
II any one should feel interested in the
further statement of my views upon this
very important subject.
Once since my retirement from the
Senate; my successor, Senator Gallinger.
introduced the same proposed amendment,
and thus gave his high Endorsement
which should be specially influential with
the people of this District, to whom he
has given such unremitting and eminent
service, to the support of this PROPOSE
ton.
I'm this connection 1 will add that Mr..
Theodore w. Noyes. in one Of the ablest
and most comprehensive articles ever
written upon the subject, published in
The Evening Star Of March II, 1888, gives
fair summary Of this proposed amend
reproduced in The Sunday Star of the
18th instant
Valuable Historical Data.
'At the same time secured the publ
cation OF Senate Misc. Doc. No. 237 OF
the first session, Fifty-first Congress.
which contains a great mass of valuable
historical and other matter pertinent to
this important subject. largely collected
by Appleton p. Clark. esquire, which
might be reprinted and thus become of
great use in any future movement for
suffrage or other change in the District
government.
Il consider the movement for suffrage
in the District Of Columbia of the utmost
Importance to the nation, as we'll as to
the District.
This republic cannot always last with
a great city OF serfs gradually rotting
into a despotism at its heart.
"All history admOnishes US that repub-
lies fall because their great cities are no
longer virtuOus and free. The cabal, the
demagogue the mayor of the palace, the
oligarchy of the one-man power are first
developed where the masses Of the people
have either never possessed. or have lost,
their just share of sovereignty.
IF IT IS necessary that the people of
Nebraska or Of Ohio should govern them
selves. then why not the people of WASH
ington-which should be in herself the
model republic for the whole earth?
Should Interest Young Men.
This will be a great work. 1t should
| specially interest the young men. for the