Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-07-15
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The nomination of Samuel J. Tillcn
by the Democratic party for tho first
position within the gift of the people of
the United States, gives more general
satisfaction throughout the Union than
if the choice had fallen on either of the
other candidates before the ST. Louis
Convention. The tone of the Demo
cratic and Independent press, as we'll
us the utterances OF leading men of
both parties, indicate that the campaign
has been inaugurated with spirit of
prudence and mutual forbearance which
presages success. The nomination at
this time is prize not to be lightly re-
garded, and it is no wonder that the
friends of the rival candidates should
have used every means known to politi-
cal warfare, to secure the choice of
their man. This attrition may, Of
course, have produced some heart
burnings, but those who are familiar
with political history realize that there
is healing power within the egis OF
the good old party, which cures all
dessentions before they become SC
serious as to endanger its life. The
hearty support of all the leading party
men is assured, and the Tammany ring
are powerless for evil, so long as theil
luminosity springs from the. smart of the
rod, Reform, which MIR. Tilden welded
so effectually to rid the State of the
parasites and blood-suckers who lrosti-
tuted the name and prestige of that
venerable organization to plumber the
public Treasury. New York may be
safely counted for Tilden in November.
Every Tammany vote lost will secure
more than its equivalent from those who
have learned their lessons in politics
from the bitter school of experience.
Two self-evident truths are presented
as the canvass now stands. Blaine was
pre-emenently the choice of the Republi
can party. The press, the speeches Of
its public men, and expressions of the
masses of the party, wherever il
reached the public ear, indicated thai
he was the coming man; and that he
was shelved by the politicians who
dreaded to place the power of Chief
Executive in his hands, cannot be sue.
cessfully refuted. That Tilden is the
choice Of majority of his party, as
we'll as thousands outside of it, who
want some practica. evidence OF sim
cerity in the candidates who profess Re
form, is quite as evident. This sim
plifes the process by which we can Or.
rive at an approximate estimate of the
relative strength of the respective can.
didates.
1t is we'll known that the secret o.
Grants power and success, has been il
his not having any policy that would
conflict with the people," another way
of saying shat he was merely thu
tool of politicians. 1t carried him
safely into power, gave him SECOND
term and would have given a third
had not the people shown unmistakably
that they were in no mood to sanction
the proceeding. To find more of jus
such plastic material has been the oh.
iect of the five thousand Federal Office
holders and their satellites. Blaine
would not do, for the best Of reasons
He was q man who would have policy
and a purpose of his own, and coult
not be either bribed or driven into til.
course marked out for him by the party
leaders. So Hayes was substituted
" a man on horseback" whose virtues
are principally of the negative sort
and who owes his success to thu
force of fortuitious circumstances. II
his case, like that of Grant, it may b.
truly said; that i" It is better to be borr
lucky than rich"
While the nomination of Hayes ha.
fallen like wet blanket over the Repub
lican party, that of Tilden and Hen
bricks has awakened oil the enthusiasm
for which the old party has been SO
noted in the campaigns wherein she
so often led to victory. That she will
do so next November appears to bt
written on the armament. The people
want Reform, and they want to guard
against all mistakes in the way of OBJ
tanning it. A change which does MOI
involve the whole governmental fabric
in its design, would be barren of re-
suits, and the question now is mar.
rowed down to whether we shall have
a reform of the abuses which have crepi
into public affairs, or abandon the great
experiment of Republican government
and write over the grave holding SO
much that was once revered by true,
patriotic hearts the sad legend as
an epitaph, Tried, but found want