, 1886-11-18
VAe as'ccl;ln sr9us.
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER L. 1856.
Party Needs

Srosaue FAILS eEFs.5.Es.
It has been suggested that repnb-
hCan clubs he formed throughout this
Territory without delay. The objects
for which these clubs are to be Urga
nIZed are several and important. The
first thing Is 10 attain unity in senti-I
ment respecting several questions
still before the people viz:-the Ii
quor question, the adoption of new
mining laws, women suffrage. the re-
strictlon of Chinese emigration, and
other questions which are likely to
form a basis of the campaign twen
ty-foUr months hence. Also for the
purpose Of memorializing congress
to forfeit the unearned portions Of the
land grants: and to restore to the
public domain, all OF the so called lieu
lands IN Washington Territory. Also
TO influence, by all honorable means.
beneficial Legislation. such as the re
peal OF the gross earning law, and
for the better regulation Of railroad
tra1llc-to prevent and punish extor-
ton and unjust discrimination, to es-
tablIsh maximum rates for carrying
passengers and freights, and the pro
hibition of rebates. The clubs So
formed should so fix the line of ehgi-
blllty, that 1t viii be confined strictly
to individual representation, IN order
that they may be free from corporate
influences. This should be done with
out delay, so that they may be ready
for work when the legislature con
Yenes. Let the republicans of east
ern Washington take the frst step in
this matter.
What the republican party in
Washington Territory most needs is
rest and recuperation. 1t has been
badly damaged this year. Two years
ago 1t cut its nose off to spite its face;
this year it has received such black
eye that it IS hardly recognizable. 1t
needs re organization Itneeds able
leadership. 1t needs discipline
enough to teach its members to stand
together and vote together. No
army ever yet Was successful when
there We're so many deserters and
half-hearted, disorganizing traitors.
1t looks as though the party had
started on a long course of discipline
That discipline should teach it to
steer clear of ruts and isms. Who
ever its next leader is should be smart
enough and unscrupulous enough to
take advantage of every local senti-
ment-just as the triumphant demo
cratic leader has done. The people
evidently like to be humbugged A
species of quackery runs riot in poll
ties sometimes, and the charlatan
who can make the loudest promises
and appear in the most diversified
characters is the man to win. 1t is a
sad fact, but is taught by experience.
The leaders who scorn the tricks of
political trade must either conform
hereafter to the fashion of the times
or else take back seats. There is no
escaping the logic of events. I'm
doubtedly i'll the future there will be
three or four political parties in
Washington Territory-at least for
some time to come. Prohibitionists
were favored and recognized by the
republican party, and that party
gave them nearly all the temperance
legislation on our statute books; they
repaid this by separating themselves
largely from the party and accom-
plishing its defeat by means of a
third ticket As result, it is likely
that prohibitionists will be permitted
to paddle their own canoe henceforth.
If they get any further recognition
at the hands of the republican party
it will be more than they nave right
to expect; so it is most likely that
Dr. Newell can do the st. john act
indefinitely in the future. 1t may be
that republicans will learn here, as
they have learned in the east, to seq
regate the labor vote SO as to draw
as much in that way from democrats
as prohihitionists have drawn from
republicans. If they do, honors will
be easy. There is no way to down
the democratic party except by adopt
ing its methods. We may be telling
secrets out of school, but republicans
may as well look facts candidly in
the face-and start in early to trim
their sails if they expect to win de-
oIsive battle within the next decade.
Let our Spokane Falls brethren be-
gin to organize il they choose, but
let them be wise in their day and
generation.