Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-03-09
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 9. 1883
Tuning Up for Business.

Strange to relate, tie F0St-In-
tclligencer is becoming a strict con-
structionist in party matters. Alter
boxing the political compass, after
straying after strange gods, after de-
feating its professeG nominees time
and again, it now tunes up its old
bass-viol to the party pitch and en-
deavors to drown the symphony that
is beginning to flow with such hope
full expression from the smaller party
organs. Or, to use another fitting
smile, it dons its war-paint with oil
the deliberation of Comanche brave
and grins with satisfaction as it whets
its scalping-knife and significantly
casts corner OF its eye upon the
Democratic party.
It very properly believes that the
contest this year will be of more than
ordinary importance, because it is
Presidential year and party lines will
be closely drawn. This, it assumes,
will be much to the advantage OF the
Republican party. Why an unusual
result of conditions that generally af-
ford decided leverage for the party in
power should be anticipated, is thus
stated: "The issuance OF two ex-
ecutive documents have dissipated the
illusion that this was not contest of
parties and of principles. The first OF
these was the return OF the battle-fags
captured during the rebellion, and the
other the Presidents free-trade mes
sage"
If that is all, we can, in behalf OF
the Democratic party, say Lay on
Macduff." The battle-fag episode
was one of those incidents that ap-
peared to come as a veritable GOdsend
to the g. O. p. winch had scarcely yet
recovered from the shock OF defeat
1t seemed to be stepping-stone, so 10
speak, by which the turbid waters
might be passed. In the extreme
eagerness OF the moment, however, the
opportunity was lost. The Fair.
childian anathema betrayed too plainly
the animus which prompted the bitter
attack upon the President, and the
lances fell broken ut his feet as they
encountered the impcrvious mail Of
honest endeavor. When Mr.. Cleve
land, without hesitation, withdrew the
order which had been made hastily and
under a misrepresentation of cfrcum
stances, the Republican party posed
in the position Of the boy who thought
ne had caught a fly until he opened
his hand when he found it was no
there. 1t will be impossible to revive
this abortive hope into anything like
an effective means of success.
Just how the tariff question is to re
unite the Republican party, when alb
solute protection is becoming every
day more unpopular, and 20 many Of
that party are arraying themselves on
the side Of the people, the Intelligence'
fails to show. If the issue is fairly
made by the two parties, there can bt
but one result. The people will decide
the question upon the common-senst
Jacksonian rule of graduating the du
ties upon foreign products in such q
manner as to place our own in fail
competition with them. This vii
strike popular intelligence as eminent
ly just. Eschewing that misnomer o
free trade" which political opponent
seem so determined to fasten upon thu
Democratic party, it will advocate 1
duty which shall fall heaviest upon in
essentials and luxuries, as a means o
revenue primarily, and Of protection
only rs an incident resulting there
from.
This is the true Democratic position
and if the Post-Intelligencer, or the
party which it has SC often betrayed
can make any political capital out o.
it, they are welcome to do SO.