Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-08-11
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON TER.
FRIDAY EVEG, AUG. IL, lNs2
What Shall we DO to he Saved

What Shall we DO to he Saved!
The Walla Walla StdtrSHt0H OF the
9Th instant, in abiding TO the pros
poets of the Democratic party Ill
this Territory, says;
1T is an opinion candiilv given h"l" D
that if the Democratic party OF tins Ter ,
ritory fails to shape politics in the rapidly
approaching election III November. il vii!
be simply that the preferences of that
partv are kept in the background though
inefficient district, country and Ter itorItl
management. We should be pleased 10
have any of the leading Democrats point
out single legitimate excuse fort the pres
ent apathetic condition Of the party III
Washington Territory. The action OF III"
Central Committee, instead of causing, ~
it should a revival of party interest and
party spirit, acted as an oplatc, and from
that hour to this, Democracy in this Terri
tory has lain dormant. The managers of
the party have done nothing which calls
for tender consideration of them on
the part Of the rank and file; on the con-
trary, they have arbitrarily dictated ways
and means which fret and worry ana
chafe every earnest Democrat in this sec
ton of the country.
This statement is, alas too true.
Long-continued defeat has caused
feeling of despair to Influence may
of its most active and determined
workers, and the result has been that
Conventions have been under the
management of men who allow other
than legitimate party preferences TO
control their actions. The party
needs discipline, unity OF purpose,
and for an object siusiy the triumph
of principle. Whenever it panders
to the ambition of individuals, by be-
coming q mere means of barter at
the polls, whereby tricksters may
deliver so many Democratic votes
for a like number of Republican
ballots, it is not surprising that the
rank and file feel Inundated and
ready to lay down arms for q cause
which seems doomed to defeat from
t,eachery of pretended friends, more
than the powers of the common foe.
While this is not the proper course
to pursue. it is human nature, and
we do not feel like finding fault with
those who prefer inanity to the risk
and labor involved in inaugurating
Q policy which must 60 to the very
root Of evil and extirpate it from the
soil before the stunted and blighted
tree of popular equality can be made
to produce good fruits. We must
cut off the decayed limbs, prune
down the destructive parasites, and
keep out strange cattle which only
browse upon the foliage and then
seek pastures new without any return
for the trespass.
The party should never allow per-
sonal esteem of any individual to
make it stepping-stone to his ambi-
ton. 1t should never consult pol
icy" so far as to lay aside tried and
true adhcrents of principle to give
place to somebody who it is fondly
hoped can "control Republican
votes" This assumption, to begin
with. is fallacious. 1t is suggestive
of bad faith and double dealing.
We hold that no one who is faithful
in every way to his party, can attract
support from an organization bound
together by the strongest ties of sell
interest, and whose punishment OF
apostates is as certain as it is desti.
tute of mercy. This was exemplified
to some extent in the last Legislature,
when the Democratic vote, which
constituted q very respectable minor
i:y, able to have controlled the or
ganization of at least one branch, be-
came an appendage to Republican
faction, ready to endorse every act
of the Executive, no matter how
much it might conflict with the law,
the instructions of the Department,
and common sense. The Democrats
OF the Council deliberately made
their party the butt of ridicule, and
in the House there were but two or
three members who seemed to real
ize that there was any question of
principle involved in action upon
the scores of log-rolling jobs which
disgraced the last hours of the ses-
sion.
The Statesman states the situation
correctly, and unless there is a gen.
eral awakening of the masses at the
primaries, we might just as we'll
abandon all effort. Sampson will be
shorne of his strength by faithless
Delilahs just as sure as he trusts
those who have so often betrayed
the innocent souls who pin their
faith to somebody's coat-tails.
II the Central Committee mean
business, the STANDARD: and all true
Democrats will gladly respond to
their suggestions; but if it is the
intention to enact farce for the
mere purpose of enabling somebody
to play a leading part in more seri-
GUS drama, then We object to taking
q place in the orchestra.
TrEsD.y ia said to have been the