Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-02-10
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON ter.
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, FEB. 10. 1855.
The New Party.


The American party, lately organized in
has already become power in
shaping the political affairs of the State.
Its platform, unlike that of the old Know
Nothing party, is by no means proscriptive
Of the better class of foreign citizens who |
have already made our country their home,
and its creed is SO peculiarly unexception-
able to either Of the old parties, that it is
likely to draw support from one as the 9TH
er if the party councils are not harmonious.
1t already holds the balance Of power in
San Francisco, if not in the State, and its
organization is said to be complete in all
its details.
The platform embraces, among other
principles, declaration that all law-abid-
ing citizens of the United States, whether
native or foreign-born, are political equals.
and all citizens are entitled to and should
receive full protection of the law. This
plank seems broad enough for everybody
to stand upon. The next declaration favors
the unconditional repeal of all naturaliz-
alton laws. This may seem, at first
thought, to be rather sweeping change in
the policy established by the Government
before it had assumed rank among the
first-class powers of the earth, and which
has been sentimentally perpetuated in
Fourth of July orations ever since. But
let US look at facts. As an asylum for the
oppressed, there came the strong-limbed,
atle-minded men and women who planted
the tree Of liberty on American soil. Our
country was then fulfilling mission quite
different from that of late years, which
has made her veritable asylum for the
halt and blind, the deaf and dumb, the
pauper population and scum Of European
cities. Then we needed population of
stalwart men to build up the fabric of free
government. The work is now accom-
plished. The necessity has ceased. But
duty remains to restrain vandal hands
that would pull it down. This can be
done, says the new party, by Withdrawing
the alluring privilege Of citizenship to the
class which contributes such fearful per-
centage to the pauperism and crime, and
which has introduced dynamite in Ameri-
can politics.
Another principle of the new party is
that the soil of America should belong to
Americans; that no alien nonresident
should be permitted to own real estate in
the United States, add that real estate pos
sessions Of the resident alien should be
limited in value and area. This restriction
seems timely, in view Of the large real
estate holdings already owned abroad.
Some of the remaining features of the
platform are: ITO educate the boys and
girls Of American citizens as mechanics
and artisans, thus fitting them to fill
places now filled by foreigners" who, it is
asserted, supply the skilled labor, and
thereby almost entirely control all the
great interests of our country, save, per-
haps, that Of agriculture alone;;" "tose
cure equal and just taxation by a uniform
reduction of taxes on the real estate of the
cultivator Of the soil, and the imposing of
advanced rates on property coming under
the head Of Injuries" to foster and en-
courage American industries of all kinds,
and to that end protect all home pro-
auctions and manufactures, and inaugur-
ate and maintain system that will not
only exclude the cheap labor productions
of all other countries, but also exclude the
cheap laborers and prevent their coming
here 10 compete with the American work
men," This is, presumably, to be accom-
plished by high tariff and unfriendly
legislation regarding immigration.
The American party claims to have
placed itself on the broad and unas-
sailable rock Of self protection, and to have
no object in view but the welfare of the
people and the best interests of the Re
public. This may be true, but we doubt
not its most sincere advocates would con-
slider the Offices srequisite for q thorough,
practical test Of its workings. Put none
but Americans on guard, !" would be the
injunction to those vested with power,
q we'll as the watchword on the battle
field ere success had perehed on their ban
ners, and it is always difficultto determine
just how far party platform may not be
designed for drag-net to catch suckers.
WEATHER REPORT.-The U. s. Sig
nal Office furnishes the STANDARD
with the following weather report for
the week ending February I'd:
Barometer-Average height, 30.14
inches; highest, 1924; lowest, 1896
range, g.