Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-21
naILY POST lSfELLlGEEcgR
..nv TEE PEOPLE,


MAKES with which the dead Lincoln I'm
perishsbly adorned his Gettysburg ora
ton. "a government Of the people, by
the people, for the people,. The words
are an epitome of the aspirations OF the
true statesman, Of the hopes OF the true
patriot, of the dreams Of the toiiinR
masses. This end accomplished, moth
ing remains to be desired in this direc-
ton. The true community OF pubic
interests. the honest administration OF
public affairs, the supremacy of the law
and the establishment. upon sure
basis, of order, "must follow as the
night the day"
Theoretically, the American people
live under such a government; prscti-
oally. they are several degrees removed
from its realization.
Senator John I. Mitchell, Of Pennsyl-
vania, discusses in the October number
Of the North american Revie~ tbs ques-
tion Of Political Bosses" The rela-
tionship between this offensive out
growth, this unhealthy fungoidal sx-
ersscence Of our political system, and
the failure 70 achieve the high ideal OF
the great IllinoisAn, 10 ono Of the signs
of the times which must DO needed.
Mr.. Mitchell formulates the question
which arises from the confederation OF
this relationship. He says: "They 1.-THE
people, make laws for their own gov
srnmsnt, and they are generally re-
quired to obey them. Their rulers gov
srn them; the question is: How shall
they govern their rulers7'
This 10 no new riddle. II is az old az
the Sphynx, which sits in stony, pas
sionless calm in the midst Of the desert,
THE same old question on her awful lips.
Bot its true solution has been more Gag
srly sought since the printing press
struck the shackles from the human
mind than at any form or period Of The
history Of the human race. Senator
Mitchell sloQuently says:
1.-THE English speaking people have
been seeking the true answer to this
question ever since they first had exist
sncs a. nation. In strange, devious,
tortuous and mysterious ways; by toll
and sweat and blood; by the purse aud
BY the sword; by crusades and con-
quests and conventicles; by passive
obedience and by heroic resistance; b.,
tongue and pen and press; and by other
and innumerable conquests in the uni
verse of thought and action, they have
produced . wonderful mechanism of
administration, which, rightly adjusted
and applied, will snthrone and GROWN
public opinion, founded in righteous
thought and supreme over all forms Of
government"
Whom that day comes, and como it
must. or political chaos usurp the seat
Of Washington. the aspiration Of the
statesman, the hope Of the patriot, the
dream Of the masses will DO realized.
Towards this rsaliz ation We, at least.
arc optimist enough to believe the cy-
clee tend. Ode minimis non earGf" may
- truthfully be written Of the genius Of
our institut tions, AZ Of that mighty
principle whose scat il tho bosom Of
God, whose voice is tho harmony Of
the universe" and the application of
which TO the affairs Of men Ia 'the per.
fiction Of human reason"
Here and there. and now and then, the
place hunter. the political boss, the
Mark NEEDLES and the Sampson Brasses
Of the science Of government may
achieve, and do achieve. unworthy sue
eessss and diagraoeful triumphs. In
sorupuloua reckless, daring, remorse-
lssa, they tralnpls upon honor and defy
dsosncy. In the pursuit Of their base
ambitions they call to their aid tho vii
sst elements Of the body polite. and. re-
pulsive ~ are the instruments by which
they acoomplish their nsfarious pur-
poses. they Who summon men from the
bFothsl and the dive to work out their
plans, surpass their tools In whatever
makes the man. il man such creature can
b called, Questionable.
IL 10 not in the nature Of things that
such methods pursued by such oonspir-
aaors, 10 the accomplishment Of suoh
ends. oan become the rule Of action. or
the dominating Influences Of free poo
pie.
The American mind, like tho area
ever which American institutions exert
their bsnsnosas sway. Il large. Its OPP
esations are vast. IL looks moro to the
preservation OF tho national autonomy
than 70 the conservation of those detail
which in their aggregation secure the
harmonious working Of the mighty
whole.
malice domestic, treason, foreign
levy" In their desperate efforts TO stay
The triumphant onward march Of the
Republic. have been but a. fax 10 the
flame. vhsn, in herce and righteous in
dignation. it, irresistible legions have
drawn the sword in its defence.
We are NOT ready TO admit that the
lssssr dangers which nov environ NJ,
the small ambitions and the unworthy
aims OF the blov dice Of politics, ars
destined 10 become the instruments Of
ths destruction Of = government Of the
people. By the people. Tor the people.
They viii have. they are having, their
little dny. They have builded carefully
~ far ~ they have gone and % far q
they know. But the structure which
they fain would rear Il . standing men.
80 70 people Who take their inspira.
lions from higher source than the eau.
eus, from cleaner purlisus than tho tar
room.
Fully aroused 10 q sense Of the nov
psRils which threaten them, they have
summoned the potent spirit Of Inquiry
70 aid them in their deliberations, and
have planted their feet upon the dru
Nns>k ~ RAav~1v~ -ks.l - -