Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-11-30
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. NOV. 80. iSi2.
NOT DEAD, But SLEEPETH.

NOT DEAD, But SLEEPETH.
The sweeping majorities polled for
Grant on the 9Th inst. do not indicate
an endorsement of his infamous Admin
istration by the people, nor. as the Re
publican journals would make it appear,
that the Democratic party is dead
The vote shows that in many districts
where that party has been stronges:
heretofore, the largest votes were cast
for the Republican nominees. While.
according to party usage, and every
principle OF fairness. Greeley should
have received the undivided support of
the party, the result indicates that
many Democrats did not vote and 9TH
ers voted for Grant, to defeat the cleo
ton OF man they have for lifetime
regarded not only as political but a
personal enemy. The address of the
Bourbon Democracy, it will be re-
membered, declared that the election
of Grant would be the less of evils. and
the only means of insuring the ultimate
success of the party. 1t is difficult to
perceive the force OF their reasoning,
and still more so to justify their cause,
but that they were sincere in the belief
we are willing to concede.
The proceedings of the State and the
National Conventions were regular, and
the final action seemed to be demanded
by the peculiar exigency of the times.
State after State instructed for the Lib
eral Republican nominees, without a
murmur of dissent from that portion of
the party which objected soon as the
nominations were made. Any blame,
therefore that attaches, does not rest
with the Convention, but with the
directors themselves, who failed in the
State Conventions to direct sentiment
into a different channel. 1t does not
appear that an effort was made to OBJ
tain any other result. Aneglect of this
kind has not heretofore exempted true
partisans from the obligation to support
the action of party convention, reSn-
larly called and held, whatcyerit might
be. To the observance of this good
old rule the Democracy owe their sue
cess in the past and upon it they must
depend for victory in the future
The result must satisfy everybody
that it is unsafe to ignore vital princi-
pies, and depend solely upon the fitness
or unftness of candidate for success.
While much that was acceptable in the
Liberal platform was embraced likewise
in that of the Republican Convention
amnesty and civil service reform
and to them both parties stood pledged,
the living issues were laid aside alto
gether or masked in verbia.e so obscure
or ambiguous that they could scarcely
be recognized by their best friends,
and required the endorsement of the
National Convention to give them an
Interpretation at all satisfactory to the
masses Of the party. Under such cir
cumstances, and with Greeley as leader.
we cannot be so uncharitable as to cen
sure those of our party friends who
have broken through the restraints i'm
posed by ordinary party usage.
Defeat does not imply death of the
party, nor can it do so as long as it is
founded upon the immutable principles
OF justice. The people may be swayed
bymercenary politicians for time, but
reaction will take place when they
realize the danger of extending lease
OF power to corrupt family of Barna-
cles, whose patriotism is measured by
dollars and cents. The industry of the
country will tire of paying constant
tribute to the little great men now
clothed with the panoply of power.
1t is but question of time. Let us
await patiently four years more-and
twice four if need be-to witness the
regeneration of parties and the redemp-
ton of the country from misrule. The
object is worthy of lifelong effort,
and We misjudge the sincerity of our
party friends if it is no. cheerfully ac-
corded.
DISTRICT CouRr. little bushes s
has been done in the District Court
this week besides the trial of Kirkland.
Many of the cases are continued to the
next term. Gen. McKenny was fined
$500 and costs for assault and battery.
E- The reports from Idaho state
That To1r Ho1o,,