The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-31
COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIAL PRESS
Thursday, October 81. 1878.
ONE OF THE REfoRMERs.

We find in the New York Sun very
and suggestive account of
Thompson II. Murcb, the s,one-cutter,
who beat Eugene Hale, the son-in-law
of Zach. Chandler, for Congress, in
heretofore Republican by 5000
majority. The event and its circum-
stances il . remarkable exhibition OF
the trans tive state OF politics in this
country and the disintegration of old
parties, the several leaders OF which
have. in innumersble instances. "pooled
their Issues" in turning politics to per-
sonsl account in jobs, subsidies and
special legislation for the benefit Of the
few at the expense Of the many. 1t IS
not the financial question alone. nor
any other special measure or specific
policy which has brought about this
result. but it is o rising Of the people
in protest against party control which
has resulted in popular subjugation to
monopoly. The rising under Dennis
Dearney. with coDmnnisiic ideas and
no intelligent plan Of government, was
one phase of the popular protest. The
movement headed by Bel Butler in
which he seeks to utilize popular dis
content to promote bis own ambitious
purposes, il another phase. The lead.
ers of the greenback movement seek to
organize party machine Of their own.
and propitiate the support Of the people
under the delusive promise of making
money cheap and plenty. without pro-
viding any means or suggesting any
plan for acquiring the money. even in
its lowest state of depreciation. The
movement upon which Mr.. March sue
ceeded differed from all these, inasmucb
as it advertised no new theories of gov
eminent. put forth no patent.medicine
circulars offering universal pansces for
all political ills. resorted to no clsp-trap
and recognized no party leading. The
laboring men Of that district, feeling
themselves the victims Of wrong and
oppression fastened upon them and per-
petusted by the machinery Of party
politics. simply declared their indie
pendencc, asserted their manhood, put
one Of their own number in the field
and elected him over the most deter
mined opposition of the politicians Of
both Of the old parties, backed by .
liberal outlay Of money. 1t is reported
Of Mr.. Chandler. that he said to Mr..
Hamlia during the canvass. that he
wished his svs-in-luw would move into
. less expensive district. But the sturdy
mechanics and laboring men, with the
ability to read and think. could not be
bought. They selected one of their
own number for their candidate and
gave him their unboueht SURFACES.
Mr.. Murch is q representative Ameri-
can Of the sturdy yeomon class which
hos ever been famous - defenders of
popular liberty. under Anglo-Saxon
rule. He is self-made and self.edu.
Gated. All he 10 and all that he
possesses has been achieved by his own
industry and thrift. He entered tho
merchant service ct the age OF IL years
and WAS first mate before he was %
years of age. He subsequently, sbAn-
doned thu see on account Of his health
and learned the trade of a stone. cutter.
using al his spare time. both at sea and
on land. in gaining information and
improving his mind. He 10 represent.
"a by those who know him a. man of
more than ordinary intelligence. q
good speaker and ready writer. aud for
several years past has been the editor
Of the Stone.eutteys Journal. His home
exhibits every evidence Of refined taste.
His neighbors speak Of him o. . quiet,
transformations man. domestic in his
tastes, strictly temperate in his habits,
scrupulously honest in his dealings,
who never contracts debt be does not
pay promptly, and faithful to oil bis
public and private obligations.
In his interview with the Sun cor.
respondent, Mr.. Nurch empha.ically do.
MED the charge Of being communis,
in ssntimsnt. He saad the most earnsss
opponents q the sociatstic idea are The
men who labor with the view of accu.
mulating. Haw such . Islander coul d
have arisen ! don't know. Il 10 mads
oat Of whole cloth. had rather ,ulFe,
some Of the present evils than to hsvs
the idea Of the communist prevail
He attributes his success solely to the
general desire of the people for q
change. ind Aid: IT il q stepping
stone to great change. One that vii
wind up Tom Scott's and Jay Gould'l
power with Legislation; one that vii
restrict Government legislation. With
out constitutional limit; one that vii
make 1t impossible for men to 60 I,
Congress poor and come out in fev
years miilicnaires. or course I dou',
mean to say there win b NO corrup-
tion. Bat the tendency will be ID,
other way. When the new treaty ret,