Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-29

that of representation as Ameri-
cans in Congress and the cleo
toral college. This surrender,
either temporary or permanent,
was made at the birth OF the city,
and the mess of pottage was the
pledge by the nation of capital
maintenance and development
and the peculiar privileges sup
posed to be enjoyed by the capital
community against which protest
in the early days was made by
many, including Patrick Henry.
The promised mess OF pottage
was withheld for three-fourths OF
century. 1t has been one-halt
rendered and received since 1873.
The Johnson proposition is now
to withdraw this half portion OF
pottage. but not to restore the
birthright. With flourish OF
trumpets he makes pretense of re-
storing this birthright by pro-
claiming his willingness that the
District shall enjoy "self-govern-
ment' in municipal affairs and a
voteless delegate in Congress.
Since Congress is. under the John
son proposal, to retain its consti-
tutional exclusive power of legis-
lation in respect to the District,
and since Washington is to have
no effective constitutional repre-
sentation in Congress under it,
the practical effect Of the John
sonian readjustment is to bunco
Washington out of both birth
right and pottage.
The Washingtonian is cheated
out of the gold which pays a
lust national debt and also out OF
his political liberty"
That Mr.. johnson is I'm error % to
the date Of the alleged transfer Of
birthright for pottage, and that he II
wrong a. to what constitutes the
as to the monopolistfc enjoyment by
the community Of any mess OF pottaRe
WI atsoeyer fl demonstrated by the evil
dence Of all local history.
Summarizing, the Liquidation OF 1873
was not the sale by Washington of fits
birthrixht for q mess of pOttages ID
The transaction involved NO sale of
anything BY the District. The latter
had NO part Whatsoever In the deal.
n was not consulted at any stage. 1t
wa. not asked II 1t assented or obJect-
ed, its assent was neither requested
nor given. ~ The half-and-half pro-
vision was not pOttage paid for the
surrender of any right az consideration
only partial fulhllment Of a national
obligation of capital maintenance and
upbuilding. incurred for a valuable
confederation three-fOurths Of CEN
she city. go The privilege OF which
Congress- deprived Washington In 1873
was that of voting for some parts o. Q
local government of extremely limited
power. This privilege, as we have
seen, IL not an American right or
birthrights the real American birth
right Of which Washington had been
deprived being representation ON equal
terms with other Americans i'm Con-
xress, and this deprivation was enc
forced from the moment of the birth
Of the city more than a hundred years
ago.
Thus Washington did not in 1878 sell
its birthrighf for q mess Of pottage;
since there was mo sale. NO 1878 portage
and mo bifthright involved in the
transaction. II then the United states
treats the limited. Inadequate and un-
satisfactory municipal voting pf1vi-
leRe of which Washington was de-
prived I'm 1874 as it's real American
birthriRht, and a. the price of the res
tofatiOn Of this sham and counterfeit
birthright depFives Warrington OF the
1873 provision for q hxed and definite
national participation in capital mp
game upon the helpless capital and Will
cheat 1t out Of both birthFiEht and
p0ttAge.
Cheated of Birthright and Pottage.
The congressman who heaps scorn and
contempt upon an imaginary national
capital Esau who Gas alleged. has sold
his birthright for a mess Of pottage,
and who then uses his despotic power
Of exclusive legislation to rob the
capital Of the fragments of stipulated
pottage without restoring the capitals
real birthright, is baser than the
fictitious Esau whom his imagination
has pictured. And so is the congress
man who threatens to repudiate the
century-old national obligation OF capt.
tai upbuilding II the capital suggests
even a partial restoration Of its real
political birthright. And SO is the con-
gresham who metaphorically Weeps
bitter tears over the enslaved condition
of the washingtonian, and who makes
false pretense Of an offer to emanci-
pate him II he consents to municipal
bankruptcy, and who Is In the end ex-
posed as swindling by the attempt to
pass a bogus, counterfeit freedom as the
genuine article-a freedom which con-
sists in striking of only one of many
manacles, or at the very most Is the
freedom to q prisoner Of his cell.
The congressman who proposes to de-
nance and development under its century,
old obligation. which now finds express
sion in the half-and-half provision. and
who loudly vociferates patriotic and
and sovereign American citizens Of the
subjects. the voluntary serfs and slaves
who infest the District OF Columbia, Is
consciously or unconscfously buncoins
the community. After this congress-
mans great act as magnanimous and
patriotic emancipator has been per-
formed the Washingtonian will find
that he Is not a sovereign Ameri-
can citizen; that without representation
In Congress aid without control over
the municipal taxing power he has not
American political rights and privileges
and he is not free.
II Neutrality-suspicious. are political slaves
now they will still be political slaves
after they have the power to elect
voteless delegate. or even District Com
missioners or any other municipal Of
ficials II the exclusive power of legis-
lation under the constitutional provision
still remains in a Congress not elected
by them and in which they are not rep
resented. Their chains may be made a
little lighter and may not clank SO loud
". thew NAV be granted nv kind masters