Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-08-26
A FALSE WITNESS.


Democratic quilts respectively, have pu up job on
the voters OF this Territory. They have united their
either OF them from occupying that noble and unhridcd
position which he should maintain while pretending TO
represent the interests Of his party.
Our readers will bear witness that the
OLYMpIAN has for many months declined
all controversary with its morning con
temporary. The reason for this has
been that an interminable wransle,
based upon mutual personal dislike,
would have been of no benefit to the
public, repugnant to the taste OF ma
jority of our patrons, and productive of
no good result for anybody. The dis
righteousness of our opponent has been
SO marked on many occasions that any
writer possessing a sense Of fairness or
the civilities usually observed by even
foes, could not enter the lists without
sacrificing the respect in which he has
held journalism us profession. We
have never avoided a discussion in
which there was possibility of public
benefit, and to degrade our columns by
filling them with personal abuse, to
crafty a miserable spirit of hatred or
to injure foe, has been no part of the
mission of this journal. And that this
course has met with the approval of the
more sensible portion of the community
we have the most indubitable evidence.
1t may be proper, however, at this
time, to give the quotation at the head
of this column on emphatic denial.
The impression conveyed is unworthy
of anybody who claims higher object
than that of political trickster or dem
gogue. Still there are those in our
midst who subordinate everything to
passion and view every laudable object
through the colored glasses of bigotry
and prejudice. The editors of the Cou-
,'ier and the Standard have "put up"
no job On the voters, as alleged, nor
does the writer for, or the ostensible ed
itor of, the Echo think so; and the OBJ
iect ascribed a few months ago was far
different, a no less atrocious crime than
to cut the throat of the poor little bant-
ling, an occupation in which we had
not the slightest desire to engage, as
that journal was continually wounding
itself through the indextrous use of
words, which, like edged tools, slip and
cut those who handle them awkwardly
or without ordinary care.
There is no partnership between
Messrs. Bagley & Murphy, further than
is apparent in the publication of this
journal-a newspaper, devoid of par
tisan politics, laboring faithfully,
theoretically and successfully to build up
the town and it's local interests. We
are free to confess, however, that We do
not believe either of those gentlemen
are so welded to party as to admit it as
the only and sole occupation OF life.
There are other objects of quite as much
Importance. The legend of the STAN
dard ever has indicated the object OF
its protector, to make it the vehicle OF
news, and thereafter politics and general
information. The aim of the Courier,
has been similar. The OLYMp1AN was es.
tablished as neutral ground for one of
these objects, on which the publishers,
possessing tie requisite experience and
proper facilities, could meet, to furnish a
newspaper and local advocate, creditable
alike to the community and themselves.
If either the Courier or the Standard
was solely a political paper, or their
conductors professional politicians, de-
pendent alone on politics as trade, the
case might be somewhat different; but
even then, we doubt whether they
should be debarred from an occupation
of mutual benefit and advantage, so
long as they act with candor and up
rightness. It would be quite as con-
sistent to expect that minister of the
Gospel should not vote or write an &C.
casional newspaper article because he
wears the livery of heaven.
But we have taken more notice of this
matter than we intended. It was our
purpose merely to prick the bubble and
show it's constituent parts, The public
must not expect that the OLYMp1AN will
notice every fste which barks at its
heels.