Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-04-30
The Age on Our Platform.


alton IA the democratic Platform that
taxIil'n should fall alike on the property
aud wealth of the country" aud assert,
,ha, the Democracy mean by this dee
lara,on. that the poor and those Of moier.
ate means, as we'll as the rich, shall be
taxed to pay the principal and interest on
the national debt contracted for the pros
ecution Of the war What a gross per-
version of language. How contemrtahly
mean the spirit which prompts it. How
easily gulled must be the rank and file of
the Garfcldc party, if such chaff can be
crammed down their Threats. We verify
believe that if the renegade Democrats
who lead that party should declare black
to be white, darkness light, or set up. Sa-
tan himself as the prince of righteousness.
the lick. spittles who follow them would
shout amen. The absurdi.y of such pre-
tensions docs not appear to make the
slightest difference, when fanaticism con-
trolls. Mormonism counts its votaries by
the thousands, although based on a no
more firm foundation than the tablets of
10 Smith. \ thriving community main
tain the doctrine of frce-love in the State
of New York, have been unmolested for
years, and call themselves Christian Per-
fectionsts. Spiri'ism enumerates beliey-
ers by the hundreds of thousands, when
it carries them back TO the darkest ages of
superstition, scorcery and witcbcraft.
Just SO Fanaticsm blinds her votaries in
politics. The secret promptings of the
clique leaders have the same potent infu-
ence as did the hieroglyplics Of the noted
apostle, despite reason and common sense.
Upon such, argument would be wasted,
if there was any need for it in the subject
under consideration, and our remarks are
not therefore intended for them.
Can anything be clearer than the true
meaning of the language of the Platform?
1t declares the property and wealth of the
country should be taxed property"
and wealth" may consist of houses and
lands, gold or grcenbacks, bonds, or any
other representatives of value, the source
of revenue or income. Is there anything
wrong about this? Most fully, most
explicitly, is the Ages Interpretation re-
futed in the context to the language
quoted, which condemns as "iniquitous
and unjust the "policy Of the party in
power, in exemptins the property of the
rich from sharing the burdens imposed
upon the people," The Democratic party
joins issue with the policy of the party
in power in this. The Age betrays
itself and its party in casting odium upon
its own creed, and charging it upon the
Democratic party. No point of difference
between the parties has been better defined
than this.
The Age also excerpts to the language of
the fifth resolution, which affirms ave
are willing to pay our national debt in
strict compliance with our contracts, and
declares that the Democracy mean by this
REPUTATION. If strict compliance
with the terms of tho contracts made by
a Radical Congress and Radical Admin
istration is reputation, who is to blame
for it! If the contracts as then made and
understood, are not broad enough now to
suit the bondholders and their allies, from
the President down, is it the fault of the
Democracy, or should they be classified as
regulators because they insist upon
strict compliance with the terms of the
contract? And here we protest against
our obese contemporary garbling the Ore
gou Democratic Platform, and placing an
unwarrantable construction on it likewise,
to foist the sins of his party upon Demo-
Gratis.
The Ages article is made up of the most
glazing sophistry We have ever observed
There is not an argument, nor logical
deduction in the whole article. 1t con-
sists of misnterpretations, misrcpresenta-
tons, falschood and unblushing impudence,
and serves only to indicate the low opinion
its author must have of the general intel
ligence of the people.
DRAMATIC.-Messrs Pauncefort and
Ellerton gave dramatic olio of odds aud
ends, in Masonic Hall, last Tuesday even
ing, before delighted audience. They
perform again tonight in Columbia Hall,
at which entertainment Mr.. Pauncefort
will give select readings from Dickens.
The Band will enliven the occasion with
|