Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-01-28
Honor to Whom Honor 1, D.e.


order Of the day-cnterprises commensu-
rate with the indomitable energy add un-
firing perseverance, Of the Americas char
actcr-ani as the North Pacific Railroad
is not the least among the many great in
tcrnal improvements now going on in the
United States. it would perhaps not DO
unntere,ting to notice briefly the history
of this great work and by whom it was
first brought prominently before the public;
particularly as advantage is sought to be
taken Of it for purposes Of personal az.
grandizement and political advancement
by windy and unprincipled demagogues
and political knavcs. In the last election
in this Territory for Delegate to Congress,
this was made one of the prime issues If
the campaign; Mr.. Garfielde claiming the
parentagc of the measure. and the soc
power to secure its success. His backe,s
and admirers taking the cue from their
champion, chose for their war-cry: "No
Garfelde, No Railroad" thereby deludipg
many honest voters, who in their simpl.i-
ty we're made to believe by the specisus
sophistry Of the "silver tongued orator."
that railroads could not be built in Wash
iugton Territory without his intercessiou
with Congress- by this base subterfuge,
and the most unblushing bargain and sale
of votes known outside of the " reconstruct
ed States" he succeeded in carrying a ma.
jority. But what are his claims to tho
position he assumes? About as valid as
are his claims to extreme loyalty to the
Government, when during the heat Of the
rebellion he was fleeing from danger to
British Columbia. Is he deserving the
praise lavished upon him by few hungry
oficc.scekers? Is he entitled to the credit
and honor so pompously arrogatcd 10 him.
self? No, indeed Like the loud-mouthcd
human jackals who hung upon the rear of
the Federal army, doing prodigies Of valor
upon paper, fighting desperate battles with
a scribbler's pen, but keeping their own
precious carcasses bcyong the reach of the
shot and shell of the enemy, and with
carpet bag in hand, ready to seize upon
any defeucelcss prey, or take mean ad-
vantage of those who had fallen in the
conflict, or had borne the brunt of battle
and were too busy with the welfare of
community to heed their schemes, he has
foisted himself upon the people by repu.
tatlou utterly unmerited. lie is seeking
to rob one the latchet of whose shoes he is
not worthy to unloose, of hard won lau.
rels. About time is it that we had heard
the last of the cry: f" Hurrah for the Rail.
road Three cheers for Garfelde!" 70
Gov. l. l. Steve1s-than whom a more
clear headed, energetic and able man never
honored our Territory with his citizenship
belongs the high honor of inaugurating
that glorious enterprise. His comprehen.
sivc mind took in at glance the enor.
nous benefits that would accrue to his
adopted home, and to the country general
ly, by building road connecting New York
and Chicago, Ella the Lakes, with Puget
Sound. And he personally demonstrated
its feasibility by passing over the route
himself, Drawing dangers, undergoing hard.
ship and privation, evincing high cour.
age and manhood totally beyond the reach
Of "our Sclucius." Is there sensible
man or woman in the Territory who be.
lieves that without the aid Of the present
Delegate the Northern Pacific Railroad
could not, or would not, have been built
or even its progress retarded one year
What has Mr.. Garfelde done to further
the building Of the road and in the interest
Of Puget Sound Just this: owned and
controlled by Williams and the Oregon
delegation, he we'll nigh succeeded in max.
ing Portland the main terminus, aud did
succeed in diverting the main track from
natural route acrosss the mountains 10 the
line Of the Columbia river. For this be
claims and expects tho admiration Of the
"dear people" and demands as reward
seat in the National Congress as the first
Senator from the State of, Washington
Sad it is that Gen. Stevens did not live
to witness the contamination of his mighty
project. That scheme lost its ablest advo.
cate in his death. The world knows how
he died and how Garfelde lived. Iris Ger
taiDly due the real protector of the North
ern Pacific Railroad, that the first bcomo
tive which dashes proudly across the coun
try from Puget Sound be called the ISAAC
I. STEVENS.
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