Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1874-09-26
THE REPUBLICANS IN COUNCIL.


Although the late Republican Con-
vention in this county did not exhibit
half the life and spirit of the memora-
bic contest in 1872, there was enough
feeling manifested in its proceedings to
interest a close observer. 1t was held
in accordance with modern Radical
party usage, and differed so much from
the hearty and honest conventions OF
wore, that one would almost fail to dis
tingush any of the former character
istics. Then the Federal oflice-holder
respected the dignity of his position,
AMI RETAINED from any participation in
the pot-house broils incident to local
politics. Now our rulers appear to re-
gard it as their special province to set
the triggers, lay the wires, put up jobs,
nominate candidates, and if need be,
direct the people how to vote at the
polls. Gov. Ferry was the chief actor,
with ex-Gov. Solomon for support, and
so perfect was their rendition of the mas
ter passions that it did not require a
violent stretch of the fancy to imagine
the stalwart figure of the lire Governor
q veritable Hamlet and the attenuated
form of the defunct Executive real
ghost. If or Hamlet should speak in
blank verse, is it at all improbable that
his discourse would be something like
this?
"Anccls and ministers of peace defend us !
Tc thou spirit of health goblin danln'd,
| Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts
from hell,
lie thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou contest i'll such questionable shape"
And the response, in sweet Teutonic
accents
81 am spirit doomed for time to walk
TIL the foul crimes* done in my days Of
| nature.
Arc burnt and purgcd away.
But that am forbid
To tell the secrets of my prison-horsc.
could tale unfold whose lghtest word
Would harrow up thy soul; fire thy young
Make thy two eyes like stars, shot from
their spheres,
| Thy knotted and combined locks to part
And each particular hair to stand on end,
Like quilts upon the fretful porcupine."
Polonios, too found an excellent
representative in several gentlemen of
versatile genius who appeared anxious
to swallow a weasel or whale, just as
required by the principal actors. In a
tisurative sense the scene was a tragedy,
but so perverse is human nature that
a majority of the spectators insisted in
believing it to be q comedy, and smiles
oversprcad the faces of the giddy and
thoughtless. while those whose natures
were kind, tender and sympathetic, re-
manned quiet observers, respectful in
bearing, thoughtful, silent.
The programme, as "cut and dried"
before the Convention met, was for Fer
ry and Solomon to head the delegation
to the Vancouver Convention, and al
though the compact was thoroughly
understood, SO suspicious were the con-
tending factions of each other that on
the first ballot Ferry's forces voted for
their chief and Salomon's body guard,
by q remarkable coincidence did the
same thing, and scattered the re-
mainder of the votes, which strategic
move virtually amounted to voting
"plumpers" for both Hamlet and the
ghost. Both were elected, however;
the first danger was safely past, and it
only remained to concentrate the stray
Cling votes and secure the election of
Messrs. Hayden and Rhoades to COM
plete the programme, arranged by the
twenty-seven delegates representing the
town, in caucus held in one of the
public offices few evenings ago. This
was at once done, and thereafter the
machinery appeared to work smoother.
The remainder of the business was
ground out with only an occasional
groan to indicate that some poor fellow
was suffering the pangs of Indigestion
under the load his stomach was COM
PEELED to bear. Sometimes an upturned
eye, momentary tremor, indicated the
emotion which the nauseous doses pro-
duced, while others chewed vigorously
or smoked in silence, " revolving plans
of deep import" whereby retribution
might fall upon deserving shoulders.
We cannot close this article without
commencing the remarkable self-control
manifested by the contending factions,
in their Convention last Wednesday.
1t was indeed sight worthy of emula-
ton in church and state. 1t imparts a
Snecial yimnr to the text HOW hloccod