, 1880-05-24

unusually large number of candidates
and their several supporters, including
many wbs would not have had the pre-
sumption to aspire to the position but
for the election of Brent>; his success
inclted and encouraged every small beer
politician IN the Territory to seek the
place; even Cook, late OF the Tacoma
Herald, thinks if Brents could he nomi-
mated and elected, it would not be very
great letting down to send him. and after
him, perhaps Col. Morse would clam"r
tor his turn, IS being in the line of safe
precedents. We have not yet heard f
any Democratic candidate engaged in
"setting up the pins" or having them
set up for him for a nomination; perhaps
because they consider it torl"rne hope,
but that depends more upon the charac-
ter of the candidates and the interests
they severally represent. than upon mere
party strength. Judge McFadden was
elected by u handsome majority over the
Republican candidate, the year of the
Presidential election, when party lines
are supposed to be most closely drawn.
AT the next election, Judge Jacobs, the
Republican candidate, beat M. Sharp
stien, the Democratic candidate, by all
overwhelming majority. In this county,
where McFaddcn had 1870 majority, Ja-
coils had 44O majority over Sharpstein.
The cause OF it was that Sharpstein was
a railroad Attorney and his interests we're
regarded as adverse to Western Washing
ton. At the following election, judge
Jacobs, whose personal popularity is ful
y equal to that Uf any man in Washing
ton Territory, and who had made a faith
full and efficient Delegate, barely escaped
defeat by Mr.. Jutson, the Democratic
candidate, WHO was personally unexcep>
tionabie to the people. At the last elec-
tion, the Democratic nominating Conven>
tion was directed and controlled Ill the
interests of the N. P. Railroad Co. and
the Oregon Steam Navigation Co., both
of which are believed to be hostile to the
interests Of this Territory, and resulted
in the nomination of Mr. Cation, VIII" but
short time before had publicly advoca-
ted the annexation of the most populous
and wealthy portion of Eastern Wash
ingtSn to Oregon, and he was placed
upon platform Which pledged him to
tue support of an ' unconditionar renewal
of land grant which haa been forfeited
as much by misuse As by lapse of time.
Under these circumstances, any man in
the Territory, not subject to the same
conditions, could have been elected over
Mr. Cation. and it made an opportunity
Tor Mr.. Brents, who was nominated by
bargain and intrigue over far superior
men, and left the people no alternative
but to elect him or to stultify thems. Ives
by endorsing principles and measures
which they had constantly denounced
and utterly abhorrsd. Any Democratic
candidate with respectable record could
have beaten Brents at that time as easily
ss he beat Cation.
The balance Of power in the Territory,
whore we have no voice in national poll
tics, rests with those who are not 81
welded to party as to be willing to sa.
crifce public interests to party success.
We do not send Delegate to Congress
to represent party, for there are no po-
litical ends which can be subserved
thereby. We but want man of expert
ence of the world, of general intelligence
and business capacity, with sufficient ad-
dress and knowledge of social usages to
command recognition and respect from
those with whom he is bound to hold
official relations. and if he cannot make a
set speech, it will be so much the better
tor the purposes of his mission. Many a
young aspirant to legislative fame has
ruined his prospects and destroyed his
influence by becoming infatuated by the
music of his own voice. A Delegate who
attempts to air his oratorical powers for
self>gloriication on any subject not con-
nected with Territorial affairs, is consid-
cred impertinent aad treated with con-
tempt. Every man of common sense
koOxs what kind si man he
would select to attend to his own pri-
vate affairs, and he would give little heed
Us to the politicsl sentiments of the man
who was the most compsnt to discharge