Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-02-27
Is the Standard Consistent Supporter of
the Administration

Mr.. EDITOR 1T can be no more than
kindness to state that the course of the
STANDARD has become quite Objectionable to
those who look 10 the entire removal of sla-
very as the only solution of our National diff
ficulties. The statement published some
months since that in the event of the return
of the rcbellious States to the Union, the
status of the slaves would remain unchanged
notwithstanding the Proclamation Of Eman-
cipation, the repeated apologies of Senator
Harding Of Oregon, who would vote for the
arbitrator Vallandiyham, rather than an
ultra opponent Of slavery, the making of in.
vidious distinctions among the supporters of
the Administration, harp;ng on Abolition,
and finally, the astounding statement in your
last issue that "the destruction of slavery is
not the platform of the Union party" has
about satisfied many of the most ardent sup
porters of the Union that the STANDARD has
no further claims OH their support. The old
adage that "no man can serve two masters"
should not he forgot The STANDARD
Claims TO support President Lincoln, and yet
affir.ns that the Proclamation does not affect
the status of slaves. 1t supports our faithful
armies in the field which are aholishing sla-
very by every possible means. and yet the
destruction of slavery is not the end desired
by the Union party! In all reason, what is
the STANDARD in favor of! Perhaps you
will say, of restoring the Union. and that, too,
without interfering with slavery. What
would be- Thought of the physician that was
in favor of Restoring the patient 20 health by
ignoring the disease! You quote from the
5. L. Journdi stignaizins A5oioni>ts, that
twenty years ago, men were Aholiionis's
from a inr,ldl.sonr disposition, and IA conlin
,ial itching desire to iutcrI,re with matters
not their own.' Nov. we would like to
know, why this unprovohrl assault upon
those who have borne tn. heat and burden
of the day The election returns from our
forces in the field, demonstrate ,ha, ani->la-
very men do not "unhrcd their country's
call" Aho!iiionis:s o. mo.r than twenty
years standing, contribute to swell the ranks
Of our armies. 1t was the fortune of the
writer to join an Abolition society tl.ity years
ago, and while such paper, as the :. J.. .jour-
nai were accrdinS t. the demands of The
slave power from the denial of the right of
petition to Congress. Down TO the Missouri
Compromise. this pampciinr and nourishing
an o'igarchy until it acquired sufficient
strength to reud cur blooa-ccmcnird Union
asundcr, the protests Of ALoitioni-ts We're
heard in the general d,clrnsioi,. Ii was in
vain tia. they pointed TO the lessons Of his
tory showing that, nations like individuals are
responsible tor their crimes. In vain did
they enforce the necessity of administering
the Government accor riding 10 the principles
of freedom: VIC rather preferred to take our
lessons from d'spo.iSHi, and now We reap the
fruits. As YOU endorse The Journoi, will you
BE- kind enough 10 inform us how ",hrr- is a
great difference in the Significance of the
term Abo,ionist to-day. from tina, attached
to it twenty years ago. Ii it is crrditnbe
to nbato IA nuisance when it is unpopular.
how can It be damaging to orr rcp' ta,on to
seek its removal WHEN sustained by the pop
ular will !
You assure your correspondent tinion,
that you do no; endorse the views of Wen.
dell Phillips. Now, although Phillips, Gar
iison and Il few others have always stood
aloof from the old Liberty and Free Soil
parties, holding in conradistinction to them
that the Constitution was q pro-slavrry in
strumcnt aud ought to be amended, still.
when you can find trarr friend to Liberty
or more determined enemy Of despotism
than Wendell Phillips. it will be time enough
to ciicisc him. Union appears to be
troubled about his disloyaliy to the Admins
tration. Disloyal, indeed! when the Admin
is,raion is using - whole power to carry out
the cherished idea of his l!c tho overthrow
of slavery! Union is simply mistaken.
When the scales shall come to fail from his
ewes he will find that Philiips has only heen
disloval to, that conservatism that would
stay the noblest work of the age, that would
check the car of progress by the interposi-
ton of the Supreme Court. Wendell Phil
lips would forrstali this by m amendment to
the Constitution securing universal liberty.
Is the STANDARD opposed to such amend
mcnts: or would it prefer to sec all that has
been accomplished by Congress. and the
President, and our gallant army for freedom,
nutird by pro-slavery count I!
"Union" seems disposed to drnounce those
MS fanatics "who believe that the main oh
iect of the war is or should BE- to root ont the
institution of slavery" and yet he claims to
be can earnest supporter of the Administra-
ton" that from Abraham Lincoln, the prince
of Abol.ionisis down tn the lowest subordin-
ate, is doing its best to root out the nslitu.
ton" Now as it is evident that Union"
cannot affiliate with or support fanatics. Of
course he will have to go over to the Dem
Ocrais.
In all sincerity. cannot the STANDARD np-
rrccate tho momentous questions of the
houry The great mission assigned to our ma
ton has been temporarily thwarted by Atri-
can slavery; but tho rracii'naiy wave now
surgns over :hc land. will carry us onward
10 point far in advanc. Of what could have
been accomplished in times of quiet. 1t has
acquired such momentum, that all opposing
Obstacles will be borne under, and old CON