Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-08-20
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, AUG. 20, 1856.
THE NOMINEE.


The nomination of Mr.. Charles
S. Voorhees, by the Tacoma Con
vention, Wednesday. is no surprise
to those who have closely watched
the progress of events ever since
the line of policy mapped out for
the present campaign has been
exposed to public view. The ear
ly call, the vigorous efforts of the
candidates personal adherents and
the prestige of success in the for
mer campaign, united with the ad-
miration we intuitively accord the
boldness and determination of even
individuals with whom we may not
at all time, be able to agree on
matters Of public policy, have
-, served to bring about condition
c of affairs that has given him a ma
: jority in the convention Of his
party.
The STANDARD, up to the hour of
his nomination, entertained an hon.
est and fearlessly expressed convic-
ton that the choice should fall
upon some one who would more
! fully represent that conservative
sentiment that has kept the party
united on the cardinal principles of
Democracy through so many years
Of triumph and defeat, and has per-
sistently urged that element to
come to the front and make its in
Auence felt in this crisis in public
affairs Having done SO. its duty
is absolved, and the responsibility
rests with those who have formu-
lated the new line of policy and
the masses of the party who did
not awaken from their apathy in
time to enter a protest that might
have secured a different result.
Those who failed to make them
selves felt at the primaries, as they
might have done, have no right to
object now to the Candidate, who
has been selected in accordance
with the usages Of the party. The
choice of the majority, when once
made in accordance with the custom
Of, the party, is a matter to which
no good partisan can object.
A convention can make plat
forms, but it cannot change prin-
ciples. 1t may, and probably
should, 60 before the people on
such questions as agltate the pub
lie mind, but a regard for the
grand principles which constitute
the.basis Of organized effort for the
widest liberty Of conscience and
freedom of individual action, and
the traditions of party, which
have withstood the most violent at
tacks of adversaries armed with the
panoply of power, should ever be
held in becoming reverence by
Democratic conventions. The plat
form adopted by the Convention,
it will be seen, was made rather to
fit the candidates extreme views
than the opinions held by the party
up to. the time of Mr.. Voorhees,
first nomination. That this is pol
itic at the present time, may well
be questioned; for there is not a
shadow of doubt but that a radical
change has occurred in the minds
Of the people regarding the propri-
ETY. of absolute and unconditional
forfeiture, and that views are now
entertained which are much more
in accord with the plainly ex-
pressed declarations Of all Terrific
rial Democratic platforms mp to
that time, when an abnormal beat
of the popular pulse resulted from
purely local interests based upon a
no higher motive than spirit Of
revenge. If. the policy which. is
always presumed to underlie the
action of the party, a policy de-
signed to secure "The greatest
good to the largest NUMBER" is in
volved, then each voter must de-
eide for himself whether the con-
tinuance of an obstructive policy is
wise at a time when a moderate
course would afford material aid in
freeing us from the overshadowing
power of Oregon. On questions OF
policy like this, convention can
no more bind the consciences of
individual members of the party
than it can compel them to endorse
the policy of President Cleveland
on civil service reform by the gen.
eral declaration that 6. We endorse
the present Administration" This
is mere accommodation, given az