Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-07-28
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EVEG, JULY 2S, 1882
Stamping Dat the Democracy.

Stamping Uat the DeIilOcac!.
A few days ago the telegraph an
nounced that all the employees OF
postoffices in New York city had
received circular from a member Of
the Exec utive Committee of the Re- /
publican pcIty announcing the fact |
that cheek received from each en- |
ployee for SIG would be welcome
and would he used for the purpose
Of "Stamping out the Democratic
party"
Alas! has come to this? Has the
rampant spirit of partyism arrived
at a pitch from which it may out
rage every sense of decency? Has
the popular mind become SO dehased
that such acts excite no special won
der? Are we living over again those
unhappy days which succeeded the
war, when fanatics justified the
assassination of the good and noble
Lincoln, because his sense of fair
ness and justice would not allow him
to be carried upon the crest of the
wave which overwhelmed reason and
for the time subordinated every pat
riotic impulse to the lust of power?
The dangers which threaten the
perpetuity of the Government were
traced eighty-six years ago by the
prophetic hand of the Father of his
Country, who, in his Farewell Ad-
dress. outlined the very conditions
which would precede despotic sway.
The first of these he declared would
be by o spirit of encroachment. tend
ing to consolidate the powers of the
Government into one, aud thus cre-
ate, whatever the form of govern
ment q real despotism. This was done
when Congress made the discovery
that President johnson would not be
the subservient tool of party. A
prompt use was made Of the weapon
by which free governments are de-
stroyed." Then followed q long train
of usurpations. States which had
been, time and again, declared IN the
Union during the war, bound by tie
which no act of their own could sever
and entitled to q republican form of
government" by the highest possible
guarantee, were reduced to the con-
dition of subjugated provinces, de-
MED representation in Congress,
while they were being forced at the
same time to acquiesce in Constitu-
tional Amendments, in their SOW
ereign capacity as States. What.
ever "party necessity" demanded
was unhesitatingly required, despite
the fact that it might violate the fun.
damental principle of free govern
ment. The people overawed by the
leaders of partisan rule. tLis usur
patton was successful, and led to
still greater enormities, the ordina.
ton of the military arm of the Gov.
eminent as a factor of party rule
Then followed the infamy of the
Presidential canvass of 1876, wher
tho people were cheated out of theil
choice by an appeal to the law o.
might, the " Stand and deliver" o.
the highwayman.
The result of the popular vote OF
that memorable contest gave the
corrupt leaders their cue for future
operations. The people must be
made to apparently sanction Repub
ican rule, or its days were mum
bered. This led to the creation o.
the enormous corruption funds
which have ever since swayed such
States as were needed in the counI
for President. The result of State
elections, uncontrolled by this grand
object. frequently show just how the
maiorities are obtained. A fail
vote, when political assessments are
not made and the corruption fund il
low, indicates an appreciation o.
the necessity for vital reform, but
when the percentage is collected
from star route swindlers and the
whisky rings, and assessments are
levied upon the army Of government
office.holders, the floating popula'
ton which constitute the balance oil
power. is bought up openly, will
scarcely q murmur of dissent from
those who, before the era of corrup
ton began, would have condemned il
unmeasured terms such an atrocity.
The proposition to stamp OUT
the Democratic party is but cul
miration Of this bigoted, selfish, fan
atical rule. It has passed the
bounds of prudence and common
sense. It deserves neither respect
nor federation. 1t is the spirit which
will, unless checked, sound the
death-knell Of constitutional liberty.
Listen again to the warning of one
to whom, more than to all others, we
are indebted for trial of free gov
eminent:
"The alternate domination of one
faction over another, sharpened by
the spirit of revenge, natural to party
a:...-,:o, xrb;ol in diffarapt auas