Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-09-20
OLYMPIA. S!IYpn,Y MORNING. Nr1. 20, 1873.
The PACIFIC BREEZE,

he the favored spot where the popular
breeze is first to sweep from the point
ical horizon the clouds that have for
wears obscured its brightness. Our
Territory last November took the lead
IL this purifcaton. California few
DAYS aeo. in a contest wagcd upon tie
single idea Of opposition TO moneyod
monorolies, has achieved n victory
which is of far more importance, just
at this time than abstract issues of ma
tional polity. The local importance of
the issue carried it forward with mo-
mentum as irresistible as the avalanche.
crushing out everything that barred its
progress. Democrats whose fealty to
party had never been questioned unit
ed with Republicans, and Republicans
stood shoulder 20 shoulder with Dem
ocrats, to rid the State of the malign
rule of railroad corporations and mon
eyed rings. Tie disatlection i'll either
party proves to have been founded
upon the extreme reluctance of many to
look outside Of their party organization
for relief from these abuses; but the
better Judgment prevailed and the result
is no less substantial victory because
fought upon new ground and with
other than the weapons sanctioned by
party usage.
Oregon, too, has just caught the fa-
voring gale, and the autocrat who has
hitherto controlled its destinies has lost
his grip on the peoples threats. The
party rode by him refuses longer to
carry the iniquitous crew he has Sc
lected to rule, not ON account of moral
or political fitness, but as the most sub
servient tools of his imperial will. The
straw which broke the party's back was
an attempt to make it bear the personal
sins and iniquitics Of Senator Mitchell,
by incorporating into the platform a
resolution, declaring that whatever may
have been his misfortunes, faults and
shortcomings in early life the party
had CENTRE confidence in his ability,
integrity and patriotism" This pill
was little too much for even the Re-
publican stomach to digest. 1t might
have approved his change of name
as youthful indiscretion,' for its
candidates for President and Vice Pres
;dent, had done precisely the same
thing and had shuffled off their baptis-
NAL patronymics as a snake discards its
skin for one Of more gorgeous hue;
but the social conduct of the Sen
ator was not substantiated by any such
high precedent, and the white-wash'
applied by packed convention failed
to erase the foul blot from his reputa-
ton. The resolution received 6S votes
cast by As persons, q voting in the neg.
alive. A large proportion of those vot.
ing in the affirmative, are shown, by the
Oregonian's analysis of the vote, to eli
Their wear Ben. Holidays collar in some
shape, or to hold Federal or State Of
fees at his option. From the moment
the result was announced the nomina
ton for congressman went begging
DR.. Geary was nominated but declined
the "honor," stating that the conven
ton had exceeded its authority, and its
action was not binding upon any mem
Der of the party. DR.. Watts was the1
rendered the nomination but Withdrew
his name. Mr.. Dolph was selected fo
the sacrifice, and although he had beer
most elquent in support of the resolu
ton, he declined for "obvious rea
sons" Mr.. Davenport likewise refused
to be the victim, and predicted the de
feat of anybody who stood on the OBJ
noxious plank. 1t was only after tn
severest labor that the mountain brough
forth the mouse-Hi Smith, an obscur,
peddler in southern Oregon who's,
shoulders were barred to carry the wearl
load of the canvass. As if anxious t,
close the humiliating spectacle the con
vention Immediately adjoined, and tn,
poor victim hurried to his home at Har
fisburg to tell his nei ghbots Of the un
expected turn fortune had taken. Poo
simple-hearted man, he deserves bet
ter fatei The Ore1o,i1, tho 1fo,,,,to;,
eer, and hundreds of leading Republi
cans repudiate the platform and it,
candidate, and are working to secur,
their defeat. This, in brief, is the sit
uation in Oregon. Col. Nesnith viii
walk over the course and distance hi
competitor without effort.
81 The circus. in addition tn r.