, 1874-03-12

.PARrY AMENITIEs.-Some time since
Mr.. Cation, q strong Democratic parti-
San, who was nominated: byla Demo-
cratic party caucus and elected Speaker
Of the last House of Representatives of
the Territorial Legislature, had occasion
to speak of Territorial officers, and em-
phatically pronounced Governor Ferry
the best Executive officer within his
his knowledge. This was high come
pliment coming from 50 distinguished
political opponent. gl
Now comes in Gsneraf Murphy, the
ditor Of the only recognized organ Of
the Democratic party in this Territory,
and in commenting upon the rumcr that
Hon. E. S. Kearney had been appointed
to a foreign mission. says: " While we
haven't the slightest doubt but that Mr..
Kearney would adorn any Office and
ably represent our Government abroad.
we object to his confirmation. We want
to retain in the coterie of Federal Off
cials assigned to this Territory one rep
resentative of the honesty and integrity
of bygone years."
Though the General by implication
makes Mr.. Kearney an exception to the
general rule, large number Of
very strong Democrats regard Judges
Jacobs and Greene, Secretary Strive.
MIR. Stuart and Major Brown of the
Land Office, and Major Hayden and
Mrs O'Brien Of the Revenue Depart
mad, as very fair Representatives of
the honesty and integrity of bygone
years."
Party prejudices aside, what difference
does it make with these men in the dis
charge of their public duties whether
they are called Republicans or Demo-
Gratis? A majority of these men were
Democrats in those "bygone years
when "honesty and integrity" was sup
posed to be the rule? We are unable to
ascertain by any practical test or pend
ing issue of principles between the two
parties. wherein they differ from us.
who served the Democratic party for
thirty-fvea years without q break from
the ranks; or wherein they differ from
their associates in the same "coterie. 3"
who never acted with the Democratic
party at all. Does the editor of the
Standard imagine that he is himself a
better Representative of the honesty
and integrity of bygone years. than
when his paper bore at its head the le-
gend: "The on y Republican paper in
Washington Territory" and he enjoyed
the emoluments of the public printing
as the reward for his loyalty? We know
Bro. Murphy too well TO harbor a doub'
of the honesty Of purpose which con-
strained him to bear his flag over from
one party to the other; we hailed him af
an honest recruit then, and We will not
go back on it now. Then there wat
= supposed to be some principles at issue
between the parties; but what is there
ssnowt Who can tell? If we have hon
est, competent officers, what interes
; have q large majority of the people wht
are not Office holders or Office seeh hers
in change which promises nothing bu
a change of name-a a distinction withou
adherence? Why should we keep nj
party organizations to create division
and antagonisms which have no rea
basis, to the distraction of the popula
mind from matters of common interest
vital to the common wealth?
At the last general election in thi
Territory, the Democracy of the Terr
tory surrendered its distinctive organ
zation 70 peoples movement profe'
sedly independent Of party, by which
Large Republican majority was reverse
to an equal opposition majority. Ho'
was that result used to carry out th
implied obligation to ignore party di'
tinctions7 The politicians seized upo
the victory and claimed it as their owi