Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-10-11
The Republican " Teredo."


There is much greater issue be-
tween the Republican and Democratic
parties than the tariff. That is only
a system of taxation, and nations
have thriven and will thrive under
heavy and even under inequitable tax
alton. An infinitely greater question
than the tariff is the question of the
nature and purposes of the Govern
ment.
Some newspapers represent the SEN
timent of their communities and some
only represent the ideas-or the want
of ideas-of an individual. We would
not attach much importance to fool
ism or criminal opinion in an obscure
newspaper, but when Q paper owned
by a gentleman SO near the head of
his party and SO close to the Ad-
ministration as Mr.. James S. Clarkson,
urges the granting of pensions to the
widows and orphans of soldiers, whose
deaths were not due to the service on
the ground that "the money will be
distributed among the people in such
q way as to get promptly into circula-
ton and help everybody's business"
it is about time to ask seriously the
question "whither are we drifting?"
Are there really leading and influen-
tial Republicans who want to intro
duce communism into our Federal sys-
tenn; who want the government to 60
into the business of eqalizing prop
erty; who want the Treasury to COL
lect money by taxation for the pur-
pose of giving it to those who haven't
got enough, in order to help every
body's business?"
We hope some of the more conserv-
ative Republicans will stop and think
what kind of government we should
have if the leaders Of their party had
their own woy. The Federal Govern
ment would support the common
schools. regulate the appointment of
teachers and select the schOOl-bOoks; I;
it would take entire charge of the
election machinery in every State;
it would deprive the State govern
ments of the power to regulate corpOr-
ations; at q time when the proper
regulation of corporations has become
q vital question the Supreme Court
has struck severe blow at the power
Of q State to regulate corporations,
and one of the Justices has given an
intimation of more drastic decision
yet to come; the Federal Government
would ruin an industry in one State to
enrich one in another, if the latter had
the greater pull" indeed it already
does that by indirection the Execu-
tive would amend an act OF Congress
in defiance of the Supreme Court,
openly. instead of by indirection as it
does now; all legislation would be
framed for the benefit of those inter
ests that can contribute campaign
funds and maintain agents in Wash
ington, and finally the Treasury could
distribute hundred or two hundred
million dollars a year among people in
meagre circumstances to enable them
to make large purchases at the village
store, and so "help everybody's busi-
ness"
We submit Speaker Carlisle's article
and the ideas Assistant Postmaster
General Clarkson's paper entertains
about the functions of Government, to
the people of the United States for
their consideration.
The Republican teredo is at work.
We would not insult our fellow-country-
men by entertaining the thought that
this destructive insect would be left
unmolested till he had scuttled the
ship, but we call attention to what he
is doing with the suggestion that the
sooner he is stopped the smaller the
bill for repairs will be.
The Republican party of the pres
ent day no more resembles the party
of Lincoln and Chase and Seward and
Sumner and Greeley and Wilson and
Trumbull, whose name it happens to
bear, than it resembles the party OF
Thomas Jefferson, whose name it also
happens to bear.
AMERICANS are gradually being rec
ognized as the greatest yachting peo-
pie in the world. Nowhere else can
ono find M much enthusiasm and in