Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-05-07
oLvMPlA. WASHINGTON rNw.
NiIpIi, rRIDll EVENING. NN I, 1856
Mr.. Voorhees, on Admission .

Mr.. Voorhees, on Admission.
A letter appears ia the Seattle In
kii,yencer written by Delegate Noor
bees. dated Washington. April -.
in answer to Mr.. Montgomerys cir
culsr to members Of Congress pro
testing against the admission OF our
Territory TO the Union. under the
programme arranged by Gov.
Squirs's aud other machine politi-
clans. Tho main point on which
the Delegate relies for urging State
hood. is the plank in the Territorial
Democratic platform favoring admis-
sion. This, so far as he IL con-
cerned. affords ample justification,
notwithstanding the fact that plat
forms are sometimes made up simply
TO catch favorins gales or to dodge
trade winds liable to blow the politi.
ca! craft out Of her course. II this
plank must be regarded a. Demo
cratic, because it appears in the
platform Of the party. was it not
just ~ much Republican when en-
acted by the Territorial Convention
Of that party. . week or more before
1t became . Democratic tenetp II
impartial suffrage. and various other
matters Of policy. are Democratic,
simply because they appear in the
platform. are they less Republican
because FIRST avowed by that party ?
The way platforms are made forbids
such = belief. The opposition in
variably adopts this sxpedient to
clear the decks for a contest on ques-
lions which are, for the time being,
Of more Importance. In the late
contest, forfeiture was to DO made
The central agurs. and consequently
al other issues were 80 grouped as
to mako an effective background.
Some questions were conceded to be
popular, because no expression OF
public sentiment, except from poll.
clans. had been obtained on them;
others were adopted, by general con
sent, because it would be impolitic
to oppose them.
Tho only authoritive expressions
Of the people on State government
have been obtained at times when il
was an issue Of minor importance,
and the politicians who favored the
widest distribution Of tho loaves
and fishes" took good care that as
sent to tho proposition was printed
on every ticket that passed through
their hands. Under such state OF
eirsvsAsAs.ses, ths i.s~s did NOT TO
csive that consideration which would
justify the assertion that il prevailed
solely on it, merits.
Mr.. Voorhees, says that he yields
10 no man in loyalty to the Demo.
cratic party" We arc pleased to
receive this assurance. We hope
that in the next canvass, il his as
pirations are rewarded by re-nom.
ination. that he will DO equally bold
in making the declaration from the
stump. It 10 duo the people that
the candidate should speak with
franknsss and candor and. that on
questions like the present, no should
explain just how Democratic policy
may b advanced by party means.
While Democratic methods involve,
primarily, the inviduality Of the
voter, they reach to the very head Of
the government, % the only means
Of making organized effort effective.
II any given policy 10 to prevail
which 10 10 affect the States, collect
lively, the National administration
must b In accord with il, and tho
experience Of the past twenty years
demonstrates that this 10 o consider.
alton which dwaris in comparison
oil other objects.
Ordinarily the proposition for
State government, even with the in.
creased taxation and responsibility
II brings. would be favored quite as
much % Q means Of bringing the
Territory to the attention Of the civ
ilissd world, a. 10 institute, In .
wider sense, local sslf-govsrnmsnt.
The former confederation has already
been STAINED in remarkable degree
by ths impstas which railroad PRO-
grsss has given TO the whole north.
west, while the latter object, the ad-
vancemsnt Of what many people be-
lieve to be The true principles Of free
government, will DO indefinitely post.
poned BY making Republican States.
Mr.. Voorhees, may regard this as
purely . partisan view Of tho sub
jsct, but in the letter before US, he
speaks from partisan standpoint.
precisely the ground occupied by
nins-tenths Of the people Of the
Union. We know that Republicans
do not abate the iron. clad rule,
when the means for sustaining fund.
amsntal principles are at stake. We
know that . large majority Of Dem.
ocrats in the Congress have been
taught by bitter experience that it is
. safe rule to adhere to, otherwise
there would be no need to be still