Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-09-04
Candid t..t D:S:ngenuOuS.

~ VIII 'o SOCIi ~ tuC ottiClc w ulCJ
appears on the first page that the
Portland Standard very materially
modiies the opinion expressed of
AR Adams. tie Spokane Falls Reg
lister of the Land Office, tho L" often
sive partisan" lately appointed by
the Administration. Tho candor Of
our contemporary l. worthy of all
praise. He went eff lllf-cock in bis
endorsement Of Mr.. A ans and hon
estly admits it. This atones in a
great measure for the injury and in
justice done by misstatement of
facts. The impression that he had
obtained, that MIR. Adams " was be-
ing used by the railroad editors US
means of disciplinins Delegate Voor
bees, to preven. The growth Of anti
railroad sentimt ut in the Territory"
should never hive found Judgement
in his imagination, for several of
these same " railroad editors helped
elect (aye, elected) Mr.. Voorhees,
Delegate, and will sustain him in all
acts which they believe will best
subserve the interests of the whole
Territory. This journal has time
and again urged harmony on that
point, and relelled the assaults of
those who seemed disposed to find
csptious fault with our representa-
tive ar the National Capital.
The Standard has made the dis
covery, 6gu,atively speaking, that the
big devil it has set up may not be as
black as he is painted; that the
"poIicy of the Northern Pacific
Railroad the past year has been
such as to create friendly feeling
on the part of the people of this
country toward thu company" and
attributes the change it PROCESSES to
see in its policy to the election in
this Territory. But may it not be
Just as much mistaken in its assump-
ton that corporations never concede
anything for the benefit of the peo-
pie, except under compulsion? 1t
1t seems to US that railroad corpor-
atoms are controlled by precisely the
same motives as individuals. AS
long as individuality manifests a de-
greaof selfishuess it may be expect
cd that corporatioUs will do likewise,
but are we to Kill the corporations for
possession of Ibis trait of character
any sooner than the person? Az a
means of agsrega!inG capital, to ac-
compIish work too great for individ-
ual effort, they have their Use.
They roll the ball of progress which
would remain inert but for a mighty
force. They make possible harvest
ing the mighty acreage of wheat
in Eestern Washington which, in
a season like the present, will
yield golden treasures to a peo-
pie who would otherwise be incapa-
BILE, as in years past, of carrying to
market vast surplusage of the sta
pie product.
1t seems to US that a body OF
men using their capital fer any given
result, are not necessarily more sell
fish or grasping than one or two
would be, having the same object in
view. Sslf-interest would prompt in
either case harmony between them
selves, who supply certain facilities,
and the people who use them. Hos
tility would inevitably rebound to
disadvantage to both parties at in
terest, just as harmony would result
in good to all.
There is undoubtedly much blue
fire and sheet-iron thunder in cliti-
cisms of corporations. They should
be restrained and restricted the same
a. Individuals; and when, just as in
the case of any citizen, q bonus is Of
fered them for any service, it should
be paid.
1t may not be, friend Standard,
that the Northern Pacific Company
is frightened into being good after
all. It may be barely possible that
it has enough sense to discern that
the interests Of the people and its
own are in some respects identical.
But it is to be expected that those
who have all along insisted it was an
unmitigated evil, will endeavor to
keep up the din and thus distract the
attention of the dear people, while
willy politicians saddle and bride
them for a ride.
q