Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-01-23
SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. o, 1864.
Consistency.

In passing upon Tic c'"'S "a "'J P
bs considered within the Union organization
we do not consider it fair to refer for that pur'
pose to his political antecedents previous to
the commencement Of the present war; AS
there are two distinct political parties in the
country, the one sustaining the President and
Congress in all the measures which they have
taken for the suppression of the rebellion and
the other opposing them, it is easy to deter
mine the position of all who are fiat-foo:ed'
.souare and honest, on either the one side or
the other. No political party Of this country
has ever established or acknowledged the
priuciple that its confidence and honors were
to be bestowed upon any others than the sup.
porters Of its policy and measures, nor could
any party exist if its individual members
were permitted to construct platforms Tor
themselves. For all practical purposes par
.ty man must go with this sid" or that one.
III he poises himself between the two, leaning
now upon the one side and then upon the 9TH
.er, As his interest or ideas may incline' he IS
sure in the end to perish between the two
horses which were never ridden successfully
at the same time by any man.
1t is always with feelings Of pain and re-
pret that we witness men of ability and am
bition throw away the fair prospects before
them in the vain attempt to perform this I'M
possible feat. The ways Of truth and consis-
tency are so plain and easy, that they cannot
be mistaken by those who incline to follow
them. 1t is but to yield the individual will
to the united council. In fine, whoever proves
true to his friends will BE- true to himself; and
whoever once departs from this straight-for'
ward path will find himself venturing into a
labyrinth of darkness and mire where each
step plunges him into deeper confusion.
In the Lower House of our Legislature
there are some three or four members who
were elected upon the Union platform, against
candidates opposed to it, and yet who have on
every question Of party nature excepting
one, voted with the the democracy" led by
Mr.. Dugan, and that one occasion was upon
the adoption of certain resolutions directly
endorsing the Administration Of Mr.. Lincoln.
In depriving the Legislature Of it's patronage
and handing the printing over to " Demo-
craft" these members voted with the opposers
of the Union resolutions, whose leader mir.
Dugan) exulted on the floor that they were
securing democratic" triumph in the ap-
pointment Of Mr.. McElroy by Secretary
Evans.
In joint convention for the election Of Ter
ritorial Librarian, Auditor and Treasurer, the
proceedings show a compromise between these
members and the Dugan Democracy" The
most important position, that Of Auditor, was
given to Mr.. Hicks, the first choice and NOM
inee Of Mr.. Dugan. The other two places
were given to Messrs. Judson and Harmed,
who were nominated by Mr.. Bradshaw. 1t
must be remembered that Mr.. Bradshaw at
tended a Union caucus, held for the purpose
II agreeing upon candidates to be supported
fos these Offices, and proposed to vote with
the Union party, providing they would sup
port his friend Mr.. Judson, for Librarian,
which was agreed to on the condition that
Mr.. Judson should prove himself Union
man. To determine the matter, certain ques-
sions involving the substance Of the Union
resolutions, were reduced to writing and
handed to Mr.. Bradshaw, with the assurance
chat if Mr.. Judson responded to them IA
vosably, he should have the support Of the
Union members. Mr.. Judson never answered
tho intsrrogatories. We believe it was said
that he could not be found, the truth Of which
f. Of no importance. 30 far as Mr.. Bradshaw's
sstion il concerned for no party usage justi-
fed him in making the election of any man
the condition upon which he would act with
the Union party. If he really belonged to it,
and certainly not when be had failed to pro-
cu.s from his candidate the required declara-
ton Of adherence to the platform of the party
whose support he sought. His withdrawal
from the caucus, under the circumstances, his
subsequent support Of the Dugan candidate
fer Auditor, and the airport which was given
by the Dugan Democracy" to Mr.. Brad
shaw's candidates, resulting in the defeat Of
al the nominees Of the Union caucus, justify
tho inference that Mr.. Bradshaw was ready