Evening star., 1925-05-08
Raps ID. A. r. Stand.
Writer Thinks ID. c. Vote Should
Have Been Backed.
10 ~ Fditnr nf Tie star

To the Editor OF The Star:
Some years ago a former mayor OF
Plymouth, England, made visit TO
the United States. on his return
home. following the eXemple of many
of his countrymen. he wrote book on
his impressions of America. He had
been reared in the belief that under
the Stars and Stripes was to be found
true, representative government in its
freest and broadest aspects, but ne
had never learned, as. indeed, many
citizens of the United States have not
learned. that at the Capital OF the Ma
ton several hundred thousand seem
ingly respectable and orderly and pre-
sumably decent and intelligent Ameri-
cans were denied, merely on the
ground OF residence in the Fedora
City. any right of participation in gov
ernmental affairs. and thus had i'm
posed on them political disabilities as
calling, perhaps, as were inflicted on
helpless minorities in the most tyran-
nical era of British history. When
confronted with this very anamolous
situation, he could not reconcile It
with his idea OF what the American
Republic represented, and so was
never able to fix accurately in his
mind the status of the City of Wash
ington. In his book, therefore, in
the effort to make the best of very
abnormal and. to his English mind.
shocking condition of political degra-
dation. TO present an excuse Tor so
glaring an inconsistency in a repre-
sentative government, and to remove,
if possible. such stigma from the
Nation at large, he said, in effect:
"ParadoXieal as il may seem, the
City of Washington, although the Cap
ital of the United states, is not in the
United States. but is in the District
of Columbia"
A few days ago. charming and bril-
liant representatives of the noble
woma nhood of America held their an
nual, colorful conClave i'll the d. y. i.
Hall at Washington. Polished OF
manner, stately in bearing. beautiful
in physical attributes, profound in
learning, esthetic in taste, stepped in
the traditions coming down from the
glorious days of their Revolutionary
ancestors, throbbingly reverential OF
| the history of their country, palpitat-
ing with love of freedom and jealous
of the rights of American citizenship,
they presented a spectacle that de-
lighted the eye, pleased the fancy.
quickened the patriotism and filled
with hope of better things the breasts
of those who, denied the privileges of
citizenship, except to bear its burdens,
had best be called inmates of the Dis
trict of Columbia"
the Revolutionary heroes whose
| blood now courses in the pure, blue
veins of these distinguished ladies had
offered their lives on the altar of lib
erty; with a fine sCorn of material
things. they had ruthlessly brewed
saltwater tea and served il to the
fishes in Boston Harbor; they had
fired the shot heard round the world. !"
and won the right for all coming gen
erations of Americans-except those
living in the District of Columbia
not to be taxed without representa-
ton: they had, indeed. brought to the
world-except the District of Columbia
"a new era of blessed freedom.
With such a background, and Vi
brating with lofty. patriotic impulses,
the worthy female descendants of Rev
olutionary sires determined that the
SOC, 900 native Americans in the Capt.
tai City of the Nation ought to he
free and Independent" to pay taxes,
to perform military duty and to
shoulder all other responsibilities and
obligations of citizenship without hav-
ing any voice whatever in the determi-
nation of the question so gravely and
seriously concerning them.
No question of mere politics. but a
broad principle of fundamental jus
licS ana aIneiiCdiliSIli NSiS IIiNOlNSu III
the resolution presented to the Con
gress of the D. A. r. in behalf of the
disfranchised inmates" of the Dis
trict If the Daughters are true to the
principles of their forbears, the
founders of the Republic, they must
believe that taxation without repre-
sentation Is tyranny. In refusing to
indorse that principle as affecting the
City of Washington. perhaps they be
lieve with the one-time mayor Of
Plymouth that, Washington, al
though the Capital of the United
States, is not in the United States,
but is in the District of Columbia"
JAMES w. MURPHY.