Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1885-06-19
uI,Nri,. w,-ut>oIo> I,W.
ollpPlt lElpN lli\l\C. IIN f.. 1856


o. ...Y,it. a 'hr f.ut...r uu the lnud
ua.i. ic,ir't,lcl "a tins Territory
,uIl E,luh.rru Administrations,
vtl,h nrc now hong uncar'hed Tor
punishment T., Mr. Cleveland and
hi.tnhno'. II now admits what
II has mover admitted before TINT
frauls have been committed, but
claims that 90 many Icoplc were IN
VOWED ia them that II /. unfair To
PUNISH an, body caught III the meshes
~ tie laN
Abiding to tho timber land en-
tl,a. Il snys that the newspapers
cohloned tie fraud apparent on the
face - largo MINORITY OF these
CLAIMS, ia consideration OF the liberal
uaA ment ma1o for ADVERTISING in
each ease The corner may, IN
this matter. speak for itself aud the
other newspapers, but /, must not
include tho Sr,Np,Rp. which has
been continually. for years past, do
nounclng the fraud, but no deeply
entfenchcd were the perpetrators
behind the rimparts erected by spe-
cal agents others. TINT 1t excited
scarcely nuy comment. 1t was sur
prising how suddenly these agents
II tho Government became blind to
fraud when brought IN contact with
the chief conaplrators, and tho land
officers seemed equally obllvious OF
oil wrong when It APPEARED that
their duty To the Government con
h,cted with the interests OF some in-
di,idual or corporate power whose
influence was as powerful to remove
an obstruction 10 their greed as 1t
might have been 10 retain o faithful
tool 10 the public service.
The Sr.Sp.np was the only paper
IN the Territory which had the cour'
axe 10 denounce this great wrong
aud M n very natural consequence
IL received none OF the " timber.
ring" patronage. the few land adver
usement. appearing in it being from
applicants who werc acting in good
faith, aud who relied solely upon
the Justice Of their filings. These
claimants. not being dependent upon
tho local land officers for any special
favor in the advancement Of their OBJ
iec,a OF the recognition OF rights
vested by citizenship. could afford
10 select o journal which had more
than once been placed under the bar
for " offensive partissnship," but in
reality because IL was outspoken in
iis opinions on other and equally
important questions OF justice and
proprie'y.
The Courier inadvertently admits
tho truth Of all the charges We hav.
ever made, whom it nairciy affirm
that " The receiver 10 no better thar
the thief" Tho object 10 not, how
ever. TO hold the receiver responsible
for the same degree Of turpitude a
tha thief. hut TO elevate the latter I,
the plane 81 tho wealthy high-tone,
gentleman. for whom such q differ
ent code Of moral ethics il provide,
that II IL no crime for him TO suborl
witnesses or rob the public domain
Of whole tow nships OF common her
itage for q mere pittance Of it's value
The Courier was tho receiver O
many hundred dollars for publish
ing these fraudulent land notice
(and Il admits knowingly to hav
been = party TO the fraud) and this
under its comprehensive view of th
subject. makes It's self abasement pr
ouliarly ignoble.
That journal In never at loss 70
an sxpodient. however. 1t lays til
blame on the land laws. 1t say,
They are no many lsgalized method
Of Offering premiums upon fraud an
perjury" The assertion is not true
A candid. unbiased mind will find
exceedingly difficult TO discover eve
ssmblancs Of truth in the statement
but on the contrary. all candid in
vestigstion but strengthens tho opir
ION that u would he difficult 10 fin
language moIe expressive OF the in
tent Of tho law.maksrs, or an inter
more honestly manifested TO protec
the public domain than il embodis
IA the cumberland act Of 1878. 1t
plain and explicit. Its object ca
only he defeated by the crime Of pei
perjury. and perjury eau only b
pslliaied In . community in whic
those Who give tone to public MOI
ais have 80 far violated their trus
sad dsbased popular sentiment q
10 render this. or any other statuar
sin. a purchasable exigence
CrritnSs Of Helena, Arkansas
have been poisoned by eating dew