Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22

iumbia rather than in the states from
whence they come.
"Ws do not see why the people IN
the District Of Columbia should De
required to give up the most sacred
right possessed by an American
cause they by accident or By forcs
Of circumstances are compelled 10
live at the capital Of the nation
The peoples living in the state
capitals are not forced to make any
such sacrifice.
There was q time when the
District of Columbia possesses the
fraachfse and governed herself Dur
ing that period the welfare OF the
nation was not ipterfered, with, nor
was the safety Of the republic In any
way jeopardized. This country fought
an eight years bloody war to estab-
lish' the right to representation
we think of our condition IN the
District of Columbia relative to the
franchise we cannot help feeling
that our national government stula-
fies itself in that 1t taxes US ana At
the same time allows us no voice IN
our own governmental anatrs ana
no voics in the election OF the
President And Vice President ana
members of Congress-. The citizens
of the District of Columbia cannot
help feeling Inundated at their POSI-
ton, and there is always lurking
suspicion in their breasts that they
are not justly treated by the nation,
and this kind Of conviction does not
make for the safety Of the national
government, and it may at some
future time engender such g COR
rention and strife that shall en-
barrass the national government.
pasi<ton of Citizens.
Further, the anomalous position
occupied by the citizens OF the Dis
trict of Columbia in the matter OF the
franchise is not conducive to the DE.
velopment of usefulness. love ana
loyalty to our beloved country. either
on the part OF ourselves OF OF our
children. We teach our children that
America is the greatest country In
the world and that the franchise is
the most sacred right an American
citizen can possess, and they learn.
from everyday events as well as from
history, that the people living IN the
District of Columbia have always
borne their part of the burdens Incl
dent to national and local govern
ment and have responded freely to
every call made by the nation Tor
money. service, sacrifice and men, and
that these children and their parents
are not even allowed to vote for the
humblest official in the District gov
eminent, and that although they are
heavily taxed, they have no repre-
sentation in the government they Sus-
tain and love. This state of affairs
argues that the principles Of the Dec
1aration of independence and the Con-
stitution are a falsehood, or that the
citizens of the District Of Columbia
are only half loyal and are not to be
trusted with the franchise.
while we may have a good gov
eminent in a way. that does not seem
refusing the franchise to the citizens
of the District of Columbia.
With regard to the colored vote, it
ought to be said: (a) That of the col
ored adult citizens in the District of
Columbia 80 per cent OF them can
read and write and 20 per cent of this
number have had a common school
education. % That as q class the
colored people OF the District Of Co
lumbia own more property than anys
other equal number OF colored citi-'
zens, have been educated to take an
Intelligent and discriminating inter-
est in affairs pertaining to the well
fare of our nation. and large part OF
them are in one way and another con-
nected with the District and national
our nation during the past fifty years
the colored citizens Of the District of
Columbia have done more than their
share in assisting and protecting the
nation. Whether literate or illiterate,
whether owners of property or with
out property. they have always shown
themselves loyal, self-sacrificing and
intelligent when the interests Of the
District and national governments