Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-26
nlILY POST -IBfELuagHCgR


A PLEASANT Truce
W. ara. all of us who have passed
our majority, il only for . few years.
familiar with that particular disturb
auoe known in common parlance a.
political campaign. We remember the
noise and heat and dust and confusion,
and wranslina and Ribina, and general
fuss- making of the ordinary campaign.
We recall the thunder Of the Captains
and the shouting, the heated discussions
on the stump and in ths ball. hired iof
the occasion; the silly disputes on the
arrest corners which bred bad blood
bat not conviction; the arguments WITH
bludQeons il NOT with knife and p'ssoi'
and comparing the quiet manner IN
which We of Washington Territory are
preparing to express our opinions at the
ballot box on the 7th Of November, with
.he fuss and feathers Of the recent Ore
CON. and the pending California cam
paiRns, We surely have reason TO CON
erstulate ourselves upon the fact thai
ve are not called upon TO work our
calves into q simulated phrenzy or tear
. p.ssion TO tatters because Jones wants
to beat smith for some Office which
would doubtless DO filed enthusiastically
il both died before the day OF election.
Tho truth of the business il we are
having healthy, normal canvass. The
condition of affairs which exists today
in relation to the offices to b filled At
the approaching general election ought
to DO characteristic Of all our political
contests. There would, and doubtless,
under certain circumstances, there
should be exceptions to this rule. In
the best regulated communities under
an elective system Of Government, de-
signing, inscriptions, incompetent
and, no. lnfrequently, scoundrelly men,
will make proGers Of themselves a. can
didates for positions which they are
sin NO wise worthy TO FILL" In such
oasss il il we'll enough TO "stifien the
sinevs, summon up the blood" and
drive suoh vormin TO their holes. But
a. o general rule there is nothing that
70 much becomes . politician, a. we'll as
all tho rest Of us, - "modest stiffness
and humility"
Lot Il b Borne in mind, however, that
tho agreeable features Of the present
campaign are largely duo to our exoep-
tioually pleasant and fortunate sur
Youndings. Industry, In all ita various
manifestations in this Territory, has its
hands full. Tho few men who arc idle.
~ general rule. are 20 from choice;
there il no discontented class with suf-
hcient strength, numerical or intellect
ual. to raise even ripple on the surface
Of affairs; tho occupation Of the politi-
cal trickster and the demagoRus ia clean
gone out Of sight like dead man.
but il our present condition IL due to
exceptional surroundings, there 10 really
no valid reason Why such state of af-
fairs might not be generally character
istic of Of the occasions on which free
men 20 10 the polls 10 cast their bal
lots.
II the business men, the working men
Who work. the quiet, mind their own
business, do whatever their hands find
10 do 70 make living, citizens Of this.
or any other portion Of tho Great Re-
public, would do their duty, interest
themselves in public affairs enough to
make their preference for worthy can
djdates for their SURFACES known, the
result would be sssn in the selection Of
candidates for ONCE whose character,
eoupled With the endorsement Of the
solid men Of the vioinage, would greatly
tend 70 put stop TO the siangwhanRinR,
outthroat, t0mahavk style Of existing
campaign literature and ofatory.
Huoh . result. permanent in its char
actor, would b very desirable locally,
and would In time. operating by the
force Of example, produce similar ef-
fccts elsewhere. We sueQest to the
people Of Washington Territory that
they make the present oal-n, decent and
dignined campaign their model for all
time 10 como. So doing, tho new State
Will enter upon il career an object of
intersst, Of emulation and Of respeota-
bility. which will attract BY practically
irresistible force the most desirable
class Of citizens Who from any given
point sst ont 10 seek new homes in the
AspAnksON ~ NhA a0ANSuU ann