The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-15
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

giving Ine people-men ana women
an opportunity to bear a hand at the
helm and thereby conduct the craft into
still waters.
The cry of ''rings," ''peculation,"
'.jobberyn and "chronic office-seeker" is
heard on every hand, and we laugh and
scold by turns, as we watch and see
with what eager bitterness each party
manager cries out against its opponent,
each accusing the other Of that of which
itself and all are guilty.
"a ring Of forty men control the Re-
publican party in this State" said
gentleman to US the other day, as an
excuse for having allied himself with
the independent" ring movement.
"Grant it," said we reply, "but ring
Of less than fifteen controls the so-called
Independents
Our friend, who is an honest man and
a farmer, dropped his head thoughtfully
for moment and then, looking up as
though he had caught new idea, said
suddenly:
"You are right Indeed there are less
than fifteen men in that ring. wonder
didn't think of that before"
''Then what have you to gain by get
ting out of big ring into little one ?"
"Clearly, nothing by!-6eg your par
don, wasjust going toswear-I won't do
itg'
"How many men are there in the
Democratic ring which controls that
party in the State?" we asked.
After having reflected for n mo-
ment, our friend looked up and ans
wered, ''There's Grover and Bill Wat
kinds, and Mart Brown and Lair Hill
and Sam Clarke
"Stopr' we interrupted. ''Not so fast,
il you please. The last two are in the
Tndependenr ring"
"Yes, L see," said he, "and they have
Joined hands with Corbett and Failing
and Lappeus and Hallock and Risley
and r. J. Ladd, and have surrounded
Growers smaller ring, aud the two iii
so snugly that they can't be separated" !"
"Yet you have been working cheek by
jowl with this ring ?" interrogatively.
"B'lieve have ri he answered, "but
somehow didn't see it before"
"But you now see, hope, that the faul
is not in individuals or parties, but il
our system of political management
which always begins at the wrong enC
of legislation to put up jobs upon tn,
people. Our, or rather, yOur Who'll,
system of making nominations is bad
Each new aspirant for public emolu
ment, who comes out Independently
proclaims himself as the peoples candi
date when the people, strictly speak
, ing, have no voice or lot in the manne
Of his getting before them for thei
votes. Well always have corruption il
Governments so long as ring nomina
tions constitute the very foundation
stone of the governmental idea"
"Well don't see how we are {,
avoid this thing,n said our friend, help
lessly.
|. ] auonGA
"That is just like men! You make o
the political pool = great seething cal
dron Of corruption, declare that womel
. are not wise enough to make it pure
and too good to be contaminated by i
as it is, and then you get afflicted will
o spasmOdic honesty and stand back aghas
at the result of your own short-sighte,l
ness"
e "Verily you pay our sex a compl
9 ment," he replied with a dry laugh
[ ''but l should like to know your opin
S ion as to the necessary ways and mean
= to promote good government"
'First of all, then, to begin at the b'
4 ginning, we must make of this Govern
D ment what it now purports to be and
I not-a government of the people and b
the people. To do this we must fir
: enfranchise woman, thereby bringin
mans natural helpmate into the polit
cal ranks clothed with public power Z
well as private adviee"-our frien
WINGED little just here-"and we mus
- call q Constitutional Convention, i
which the experience OF the one hun
dred past years Of Republican life sha
be used in connection with the wisdoI
: of men and the intuition OF women {
the present century in forming a ne
Constitution by which to guide the n,
tion for the next hundred years"
"What steps do you consider necei
sary to bring these things about ?'
: "The best thing 1 can see for Greg,
n mans to do at present is to stand by Il
e existing political parties. Every voi
ie that Republicans give to the Tndepen,
8 ents' is half vote for the Democrat
Ie party, and every vote that Democrat
T, give is half vote for the Republica
p nominees. Since rings are the order
le the day, and you don't like them bl
h can't help yourself, think I'd work il
side the biggest one, where I'd feel Il
lie pressure least"
y "But how will this course aid in Il
enfranchisement Of women?p
'The Republican party is going to
compelled to enfranchise us, just as
ie was compelled to set the masculiI
is negro free. I grant you it is rather hi
e initiating TO woman's sense Of justice
be compelled to admit this, but it's trI
=, and we can't help it."
J. "If this be true, and confess it lool
E, like it, won't every defeat sustained
l. Il. /.