Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-07-03
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 3, 1850.
Demag0guism.

This is emncntly the age of dcma-
eoyuism, in religion and politics. Church
and State arcnot unfrcquently ruled bymen
who have no object under heaven except to
glorify Themselves AS matter of course,
knavcs are the only class who succeed at
this class of business. Moraland partisan
organizations have their choice; they can
support such self-constitutel leaders in
high places, or be sunk by them The
worst feature of the whole matter is, that
the honest and right-intended too often
place premium upon hypocrisy by con-
timing its distinctions to those who are the
most clamorous and loud-mouthcd trum.
peters Of their own virtues. The political,
religious and moral demagoguc is usually
found united in one and the same person,
bat this is not always the case There are
occasionally specimens, who have contract
ed so many vices and wallowed in the gut
ter so long, that they cannot affect even
the appearance of dcccncy.
The "moral" dcmagoguc, when he doGs
his lodge regalia lays aside his temperance
principles Herewith, and history teaches
that he may associate with loafcrs, drunk
ards and gamblers, at will, if he is but dis
Greet enough to hide his foot prints from
the public gaze. But the Church dcma-
goguc is still grcatcrhypocritc, for hclitcr-
ally" steals the livery of heaven to scrvc the
devil in" So we'll is the cloak worn some
times that chance alone betrays the cloven
foot to his confding flock.
The modern demagogue is the bane of all
organized effort the oljcct of which is
to promote the success fpr;nciple and not
build up individuals or contribute to their
glory. Asapplied to political parties, when
the object is perverted all effort becomes
simply scramble for place and share in
the spoils, an end as contemplate as it is
venal and corrupt. A few thus ride into
power and place, upon the backs of the
many, who are deluded by vague idea of
some benefit that will accrue, or are de-
ccived into making the choice of an unreal
for real thing. The very life of party
organization is based upon an equality of
its members. No individual member of
the party, however commanding his talents
or true bis record, has right to demand
special privileges because he has been
longer in the harness than others, who may
be actuated by just as pure motives as
himself. When man so far exalts him
self that he claims to own his party
then it is time for them to seriously con-
slider if friendships chain may not have
bound them in a worse captivity than that
Of the most abjcct slave.
The people should study well the char
actor of their representative men, and OK.
act from those who aspire to leadership
the common virtues and attributes of hui
manity. If they claim to be the e,abodi-
ment OF the party, and to promulsate
oracular tenets and warnings, it is good
cause for suspecting their honesty of pur-
pose. If they traduce others who thew
imagine may be rivals in party favor. it is
cause for suspicion of their devotion to the
party. If, under the garb of friendship
they secretly undermine the reputation of
their fancied rivals, they have adopted the
surest method of placing themselves and
their cause beyond the hope Of resurrcc.
ton.