Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-05-23
The Tribune Gives Some Reasons.

The Tribune can ring more changes
on the word Republican" within a
given time than any other paper that
comes to our exchange table. 1t is,
however, matter of little surprise.
1t was born with the tag" Republican"
sticking out OF its mouth and its nose
turned toward the public teat. Not
withstanding this prestige, which
should at once enthrone it as the
Olympian oracle on party matters,
it seems to think that it must keep up
hue and cry or somebody may doubt
that it has any right to dictate line
of policy to the party bosses.
Tuesdays issue lectures the Morning
Journal, of Seattle, for daring to ex-
press the opinion that while Judge
Calkins may possess elements of
strength which possibly will force rec
ignition from the Republican party,
his election to the U. S. Senate would
be public calamity. The Tribune's
party zeal blinds its eyes to the very
evident fact that the Journal is look
, ing at the matter through Seattle,
rather than party, spectacles. 1t can
only see in the motive of its contem-
porary the same moving power that
controls itself, and having measured
its opponent by it's own little party
rule proceeds to strip for the fray by
advancing this remarkable PROPOSE
ton:
Judge Calkins is a much better man to rep
resent this splendid State in the United States
senate than any Democrat in King, or any other
county in Washington"
1t will be seen that the Tribune
sizes up men as it would a ton OF coal,
stack of hay or load of manure.
Nothing is too small or too large for
its mental calibre. The doubt on
every proposition submitted disap-
pears as the mists before the rising
sun, when brought under the concen-
trated rays of its mental vision. In
the matter under consideration, it
gives reasons why Judge. Calkins is
better than other men. They are:
"First, Because he 10 Republican.
oeCOu0. Because he IN fully eOuIDDed' 4
statesman.
Third. Because he 10 . citizen ofunimpeach-
BILE integrity"
The first reason is, of course, un-
answerable. He is Republican, and
that in the eyes of the Tribune, like
Charity covers q multitude of sins.
He is Republican, and like the L.
vite, is better than other men. The
second because" relating to equip
ments is not so easily understood. If
we knew just what accoutrements were
essentials to craftsmanship, we might
form some idea. If, for instance, the
weapon used by David when he slew
the Phillistines is admissible in mod
ern warfare and we think it is from
recent proceedings in Congress, we
will admit without debate that the
Judge may be better equipped, in
carrying that formidable armament
than other men.
The third reason Qike the others) is
simply bosh-" because the Judge
is man of unimpeachable integrity"
Has honesty become such q rare virtue,
that its possession may be made the
subject of special commentator
Is there the slightest weight in the
assumption Of the Tribune that indi-
vidual party predictions make man
either honest or dishonestf
Judge Calkins is, we doubt not, an
able man, true citizen, and may
possess that first essential of Jackson
ian fitness-honesty; but does it fol-
low that he is ADLER, truer or better in
any respect than hundreds OF other of
our citizens, even of the 1ribune's
prescribed class of people-Democrats!
Assuredly not. The people know bet
ter, and it u useless for our contem-
porary to try to make party capital by
that means. Invidious comparisons
never produce the effect intended. Mrs.
Darlington affirmed, speaking in gen.
eral terms, Comparisons are odorous."
If it is true, the faint surely cannot be
improved by the admixture of personal
jealousy and party spleen with the un-
savory compound.