Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-10-29
An Nunea; Politician.
The Eugene City Orr G1o,d Sd

Democrats. Of the Housc Of Representatives,
the name Of one who seems to have the benefit
OF the people at large. and that alone in view,
greets the car ~ does an aoss in the desert
the eye Of the wayworn traveller. Snch M
one is Ex-Governor Whitaker. While other
members are exrending their surplus wind on
some frivolous object that has no merit. and
which deserves no name, we end the gentleman
named always endeavoring to solve the diff
cult problem Of how to work the greatest good
TO the greatest number"
It gives MS pleasure to add our testimony
to that Of the Guard as to the worth Of
John Whitaker. Among the Democratic
politicians Of Oregon, he is one of the very
few who have uniformly adhered to prin.
ciplc without becoming factious, cnvious,
or sclfseeking, or identified with any fac
ton or clique; never among those who
canvass, log-roll. or bargain for nomina-
tons, and become disaffected when defeat
ed in their aspirations; a strict party dis
ciplinarian without ever sacrificing his
sense Of honor to party wrong; no man
holds his own convictions by frmcr ten.
ure, and none are more tolerant of differ.
ences not material to the main issues. We
have had occasion to differ with Governor
Whitaker upon questions of policy, and
never once found him impugning our mo.
tives, or seeking to impair our standing by
incorporating our position to others, as is
a common practice among local politicians,
and We think no man ever heard him at.
tempt to disparage the character or quail.
fications Of rival in his own party, though
he had abundant provocation to rctaliate
in that manner.
A practical working farmer upon the
frontier Of civilization from childhood, he
enjoyed few carly school advantages, but
in the intervals Of labor he has cultivated
a superior native intellect, till in practical
knowledge of the elementary principles
and philosophy Of government he has few
equals and no superior in Oregon. Called
from his farm to the chief Executive Office,
on the organization of the State Govern.
ment, he administered the duties Of that
high office under delicate and trying cir
cumstances in such manner as to command
the confidence and respect of all fair politi.
cal opponents and the commentator of
his own party, and leaving the office with
out stigma upon his official or personal
integrity, he returned to his farming avo.
cations as unaffected and pretending as
when he left the plough for the chair of
State.
With John Whitaker Democratic prin.
ciplcs are immutable convictions, and those
who know him best would not presume to
designate his Democracy by any such
qualifying terms as "bed rock,"" radical"
or conservative" which are sometimes
assumed by dcmagogues to trumpet their
own exclusive merits.
Why man of such incorruptible intcc-
rity aud thoroughly practical qualifications
for public position should be set aside by
his party to give place to persons of greatly
inferior claims to public consideration, is
only explained by the tendency Of the
times in both political parties; Office no
longer seeks the man, but the man seeks
the Office. The man who maintains his
self-rcspect and the respect of the better
class Of community by abstaining from the
bargain, log-rolling and trickery by which
nominations are gained, stands little chance
for Office at the present time. When NOM
mating conventions are representative and
deliberative bodies instead of caucuses
packed in the interest of ofice.seckers.
public Offices will again become places of
honor; until then, "the post of honor is
the private station" ..