Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-02-27
Ihc 0ltashinoton Standard,
SATURDAY MORNING. FEB. 81, 1869.
State Government,

"1hc people can be taxed enough for the benefit
nj needed improvements without an additional tax
for State government. The thousands Of wild
lands that government is now disposing Of is poor
foundation upon which to base the support OF a
State. They must be cultivated and improved,
cities AMI towns must be built, school house and
church spires erected roads opened and manufac.
tories set running, and above all must have pco-
pie before we talk Of the state IF Washington"
We quote the above from the Trans
vipt Of last week. We are not surprised
at this avowal. which is in consonance
with the sentiment of the Republican party
here and elsewhere. The reason for this
is obvious. There is a proposition now be-
fore Congress which gives to the "powcrs
that be- at Washington, the appointment
Of all the Territorial and county officers
down to Constable and Justice of the
Peace. This. if it becomes a law, will
practically abolish everything like self
government in the Territories, and give
over to the hungry horde Of Radical Office
seekers the places which the people in their
sovereign capacity as american citizens
would never bcstow upon such unworthy
men. Slowly but surely is Radical rule
celebrating every vestagc of republican
government Their policy is to rule, at
whatever cost and at every hazard. TO
rule. negroes were cniranchsed in the
South and the Territories. TO rule, thou
sands of white men have been disfran-
chised for opinions sake. To rule, tho
revenues of the nation arc made the COM
mon plumber for the faithful, and We see
men rolling in opu!cnce at their case who
have never raised an arm in defense Of the
Government, but who. on the contrary
unlike Artemus Ward-have even refused
to allom Mev relatives strike blow in its
behalf. Even this is not enough. 1t is
proposed to cnfranchise Cinnamon and In
dians, to enable our loyal monopolists and
cntcrprsing Indian Agents to drive to the
polls droves of idolators and savagcs to
control the little remaining power that is
left with the people. Awaken! the dam
ger approaches. Will you aid a party
that is striving to fastcn the popular will in
letters from which the present generation
can have no hope Of freedom? Are VIC so
oblivious of the things (which so nearly
concern our temporal salvation? We
do not seek to be an alarmst. The record
of the Radical party justtics the admoni-
ton. Its progress has constantly tended
towards Capitalization Of power. and after
that comes dcspotism.
When, at the close Of the war, we pre-
dicted that negro-sutfragc in the Terrific
ries would be the next step in the iniqui-
tous programme our words were greeted
with derison. When several prominent
individuals who still hold Federal posi-
tions. assured us that when the issue came
to ncgro-suffrase they would repudiate the
party cngraitingit into their creed, we had
confidence in their honesty but thought them
lacking essentially in that presccnce which
is usually possessed by successful politicians
The result shows that We overratcd their
integrity, and that it matters not how many
angles may be turned by the faithful ifthey
only prove tractablc followers. We were
right in our prediction, and they were
wrong in theirs. They may eek to recon-
cile the matter as they please, no sophistry
can patch up the gap between their past
professions and their present creed. The
secret moving agent has been simply " the
cohesive power Of public plumber" This
has been the all-powerful aid which has
enabled them to swallow the black draught.
Will it be less potent in the future? May
not these vampires again be bought to do
the bidding of their party lenders? And
may they not feign to condemn unpop'
ular theories, and pocket the hard earn
inss of industry while they rivct the chains
Of servitudc still more closely upon their
limbs?
With mock philanthropy such men pre-
tend to advance the interests Of the people
by opposing = State government. They
very cunningly insinuate that if tho Ter
ritory had the population and wealth, moth
ing would be more desirable" and advise
delay, while Congress takes away, one by
one the inestimable privileges which have
constituted the birthrisht Of American cit
isenship. This is why the Transcript, as
the organ Of these lceches, opposes sys-
TEN which en!arges the scope Of the popu-
will.
Never have the prospects of the Terri
tory appeared brighter than they do now,
and nothing that the people can do will so