, 1875-06-12
A0uestion of Party spells.

Those small creatures who by an inscru-
table Providence, are permitted to edit coun-
try newspapers, and to subsist upon the
garbage gathered from the corruption OF party
| politics are thrown into spasms OF envy oe-
cause the editor of this paper has been award
ed a position of public trust which ne mas
not earned by eating dirt OF dong Ineni@i
party service; a circumstance which they
cannot comprehend, as The like never before
came within the experience ot any OF them
! First comes ,be ass tot village attorney
| who resorts 10 the press Is an alternative TO
| starvation at the bar, and lays down the law
! on the subject. which the VIrtuOus editor of
! the Tacoma TriJzHc echoes forth as follows
Judge Lewis has, we are informed, and
! quite arbitrary. We think, taken upon hlm-
! self TO appoint Deputy Clerks for Mr. Seavey
at both Steilaeom and Seattle-at the former
! place Mr. Julius Dickens, and at tho latter
| Mr.. Beriah Browu-in this way defeating
| the intent of the law combining the three
| clerkships III one"
| Had either of tasse men known anything
OF the law Of which they assume 10 speak 80
| positively, they cuuld only have made this
statement with the malicious intent OF mis-
! representing the facts Section 00S, OF ihe
| United States Revised Statues says One
or more deputies Of any clerk OF district
court may be appointed by the court, on tbs
| application of the clerk, and may be removed
at the pleasure of the Judge authorized 10
make the appointment.
Strictly in accordance with this law, on
the written application Of Mr.. Seavey, now
on file IN this office, the Chief Justice made
! the appointment. If any consideration OF
| reward for party services, past or prospective
! had any influence upon the Judge choice,
We are not conscious of it. That our appoint
ment was recommended by a majority OF
the bar of this District, of both political par
ties, we are credibly informed, that II is en-
| dorsad by every Fedral oil ,er upon Puget
Sound, we have good reason 10 believe, and
that it Is acceptable to the fair men OF all
parties We have no reason to doubt.
But the C0lEar, the prOfeSSed organ OF the
republican party of the Territory, and lis
confrere, the Stamford, the professcd organ Of
the democratic party of the Territory, Join IL
condemning the appointment as la violation
of party usagss, and intimate that Judge
Lewis Is ether a party 10 a corrupt bargain
or false To his party obligations. The last
legislative Council WAS composed of five re-
publicans and four democrats We received
the unanimous vote of the members of that
body for Chief Clerk, position of more po-
litical influence than the Clerk OF the Court,
We subsequently received the unanimous
vote of the entire Legislative Assembly for
Regent of the University, and were after
wards elected President of the Board of Re
gents; position certainly OF more dignity
than that of a Deputy Clerk. In neither OF
these eases was there an iutimation or sug-
geStiOn of corruption OF violation of party
usagcs because the emolumeuts Of those Off
CTS were supposed 10 be much less than those
of Clerk Of the Court; the logical deduc ion
from which Is, that they regard the amount
Of the spoils Of Office as the sole test OF party
fidelity.
Fortunately for the country and for the
honor and dignity of party politics, such
principles are held in low esteem by the more
honorable even Of both political parties. i
gentleman whose connection with the rePub-
lican party dates from lis first existence, and
who has enjoyed IL highest honors in the
Territory, writes US: MY hearty congrat-
u!ations on your recent appointment As
member Of the bar OF the Sd district | would
heartily add Iuy name, were it not too late
70 eNhlDlt my wish Tor yoar success know
you are honest and competent, and trust
| do not misapprehend the signs of the times,
that we are really getting back to the Jetfer-
sonain test for appointment to Office, and get
ting away from the horIid innovation that !
TO the victors belong the spoils, and that
political dirt citing and partisan service are !
the sole claims to position, regardless OF ca
pacity or character. '-SlGtt'e idyat6.