, 1881-08-19

EAHLA NAltlsl.- .-NJuT lIltnu Oh the
Olympia STANDARD" evidently mis-
understands our position on the civ
il service question. We meant no
disrespect 10 Mr.. Bash, and never in
tended to use our feeble influence to
cripple or weaken his power as a
party leader. On the contrary it is
our desire to afford him such hearty
CO operation, politically, as his course
may deserve. Our critic seems to
suppose that because we, in com
mon with many others, disapprove of
the policy that sends officials from
the East TO this Territory, we must
necessarily belittle or try to injure
the individuals representing that pol
icy. Mr.. Bash is certainly not 20
blame for accepting the appointment
of Collector of Customs, as almost
anyone else would have done so un
der like circumstances. Moreover,
we believe him TO be a careful, cons
scientious official who will do his
very best to make his administration
remarkable for its purity, its eflicien-
cy and its general acceptability.
Some OF the appointees from abroad,
20 positions of Importance, are OBJ
jectionable, as we have said before,
on account Of their youth and mex
perience; but this objection, like the
size of the old lady's pudding, will
gradually wear away. At least if
il should lead to bad results, the
Collector knows, doubtless, that
large share of the blame will at
tach to MIN as the appointing power.
But it is neither sensible nor polite
to weaken or divide the republican
party in cur Territory over fruits
less quarrel about a system that can
b, abolished only by a state gov
ernment. Prudent members of the
party will work might and main for
that change, and when it comes, as
it certainly will before the close OF
the present National administration,
a new order of things will be inaug.
urated. Then, Mr.. Bash will be
able to appreciate the value of the
friendship of honest party workers
in this Territory, if he shall have been
fortunate enough to have recognized
their claims beforehand. We did
not intend to agitate this subject, or
obtrude any views on the public,
but comments from an apparently
mistaken notion of our position
have made it a necessity; hence
these plain words-for there is moth
ing gained by mincing matters. The
worthy citizens who have spent ttier
time and means and exercised their
best talent to make the republican
party of this Territory what it is to-
day have a right to freely express
their honest views, and to be re.
spected with reference to the future
moulding policy of that party. Such
defense of Mr.. Bash and his imme>
diate friends as that of "Esop," in
last weeks ''lntelligencer," will do
him and them more harm than good.
That writer always did seem to mis-
take abuse for argument, and fallacy
for sound sense; or, if not, he al.
ways insuited popular Intelligence
by proclaiming his supposition that
people couldn't tell the differ ice
between his bombastio effusions and
argument worthy of their considera-
tion. Take, for instance, his impu-
tations on the motives Of those whose
views he opposes, and his citation of
the exception found in Mr.. Web
ster's last appointment as rule by
which to judge that gentleman's Of
ticial conduct. This style long ago
buried him in his own party, but he
does not seem to have pro6ted by
the lesson. The Olympia "Tran.
scripts" silly attempt to promote
discord, TOO, is but a continuation OF
its past suicidal political course, and
Injuries those it hopes to benefit
notably the new Collector. 1t never
raises apparently to a conception
higher than that of disappointed
hanger on" and cannot, or does not,
accreGit others with motives higher
than those of the most selfish and
petty character. The republican
party has record in this Territory
OF which it may well be proud.
That record, together with its prom
ises for the future, are such that the
people have righs to expect much
from it. If it fulhlls their expec,a.
tions, we hope to see it prosper; if
not, we will work for a change. We
are not of those who claim for thar
party monopoly of the intelligence
the good judgment or the patriot
ism of the country; but our humble
efforts, as far as they are exerted
politically, shall be for the elevation
of that party to the highest point at
tainable in those results which rem
der it most worthy of popular favor.
There is no reason why good men
may not continue to work unitedly
in this direction. If Mr.. Bash will
join earnestly in this matter, and
make his quota fully up to the re-
quired standard, as we have every
reason to believe and expect he will
do, there need be no arrangements
or chickering's.