Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-01-23
SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. %, lSG!
PRINCIPLES. not Men.

Since the Presidential election, some of
our Republican friends have exhibited
much mock sympathy, while commenting
upon the course Of the STANDARD. They
invariably assume that We abandoned what
they arc pleased to call the " Union party
Not so, brave and magnanimous friends,
who so delight to glory over fallen foes!
We arc an humble member of the only
true Union party of the country, and as
such, and in the name of justice we protest
against the Republican party stealing the
livery Of heaven to serve the Devil"in,"
and especially against professional politi-
clans using their crampcd "half-bushcr'
to measure their opponents grain in. No
where, except in this Territory, do the Re-
publicans claim the name of Union. With
all the brazen impudcnce which has marked
the course of that party everywhere, they
have not had the boldncss to adhere to a
term which so bellies tho true objects Of the
party, except here, where the small-fry
party leaders make up in impudence what
they lack in brains. The volubility of
Gar6elde was not wanting in the Summer
and Fall of 1866, to convince that the pol
Icy Of Congress was destructive of Union,
while that of President johnson was no
less promotive Of the object-thc rcstora-
ton of the Union, and harmony and frater-
nifty throughout the country. P.D. Moore
was quite as vehement in dcnouncing the
"disuuion policy" as he termed it, Of Con-
gress, while harranguing johnson Conyen-
tons, in conversation on the strcet-corners
and at the polls. How clearly they proved
that this policy was not only antagonistic
to, and subversivc of, the principles which
controlled the party during the war, but
destructive Of the " Constitution and demo-
cratic government'-(Mr. Moore's own
words.) We shall not attempt to prove
a position SO ably and satisfactorily argued
by these learned gentlemen, and sustained
with 80 much enthusiasm by such shining
lights in the Union party as hIessrs. Evans,
Elder and Cushman, down even to the
Register of the Land Office. They have
obviated the necessity of our declaring that
the Republican party is founded upon
principles Of disunion rather than Union
of avarice rather than patriotism. We
believed these gentlemen to be sincere
in their professions, to possess the same
laudable spirit which had made them I'm.
ion men during the war, and to be devoted
to principle wherever it might lead them
or whatever condition it might bring forth
We defended their reputation when we
believed it to be wantonly assailed by the
tongue Of calumny. We devoted these
columns to their defense, believing their
motives to have been misconstrued by enc
mics in their own ranks no less than their
political adversaries. But alas! how thing.
have changed. What confidence can be
placed in the professions Of men whose am.
bition is to secure, or to retain, fat Office
These men, who then declared that the
very policy they are now unfolding was
ssbyersive Of the intents of the war, to
hold their places at the public crib, now
swallow the very epithets they applied to
others, for the same object. Out Of their
own mouths have they been condemned.
Now it has been men who could not con-
ccive Of higher motive than sel6shness,
who have shown so much solicitude for
our welfare. Controlled by just such con-
sideratioas themselves, they can scarcely
believe that Others may not be Influenced
by the same sordid motives. IF they would
but consider that the prefer of "per-
eentage" upon public surveys more am
pie than the entire profits of printing
Office was refused by US, they would admit
that PRINCIPLE may sometimes be con-
trolling motive, however much an cxcep-
ton to the general rule it has become now a