The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-20
SEATTLE. sArURDAY, JUNE 90.
POLITICAL BIGoTRY.

Unless, which would appear incredible.
Chauncey NJ. Depew has been guilty of de-
Iiberate misrepresentation, or of SANDER
Gus misstatements, the new party which
aspires to control and reform public af-
fairs stands seIfconvicted OF intolerance
and of conscious advocacy of measures
which cannot endure the test of full and
free investigation and discussion.
In a late number of the New York
Tribune, Mr.. Depew is credited with an
unaualified and emphatic declaration that
the new party Is organized into aclose cor
porafion, with rigid rules of discipline,
among which is one that requires that
ssthe members shall read only the papers
Of their own party, and penalties are inn
posed for reading those which are either
Republican or Democratic" He further
declares that the members of the new
party are forbidden to give audience TO
those who may attempt 10 do missionary
work with them on behalf Of the '.gold-
bugs" or the money power"
Instances are cited in which pamphlets
containing discussions of one or another
of the new party's principles" were
sought to be circulated among its MEM
beers, their leaders "fatly refused" to give
access TO the rolls of membership, with
the declaration that they don't propose
to permit their followers to read anything
but their own publications. In other
words, they ask their followers to blindly
accept the gospel Just as they see fit to
teach it to them, and thenceforth to shut
their eyes and ears to all arguments upon
the subject. They thus confess either
that their doctrines will not bear the light
of investigation, or else that they cannot
trust their members to reach and adhere
to an intelligent conclusion.
How different this from the way in
which the Republican party worked up.
ward from the smallest Of beginnings 10
assured supremacy. In its very infancy,
one of its most Characteristic, boldesf,
shrewdest and most successful efforts was
TO publish in pamphlet ard book form,
and 70 circulate far and wide, side By side,
not word of either omitted, the great
speeches Of Douglas and Lincoln in their
famous discussions on slavery, popular
sovereignty and the Kansas-Nebraska bill.
DongIss, the foremost and best known
Democratic orator Of that day, backed by
the dominant party, was given equal space
and chance with Lincoln, then compare
lively obscure and unknown.
They were not afraid TO submit their
principles to the blaze of freest discussion.
They were not afraid to trust their con-
verts TO hesr and read all that could be-
advanced in opposition, and TO "hold fast
to that which was good"
II Mr.. Depew has not been guilty OF mis-
representation, or has not been misin-
formed, bis revelation is conclusive that
the new party is built upon a foundation
of higotry and mistrust which can never
be permanently successful in this free
country. Men who cannot be trusted 10
reason and investigate cannot be trusted
to remain steadfast. Those capable Of rea-
soning, and disposed to do so, cannot long
be held to discipline that denies them
these privileges. The very means de-
signed TO hold the party intact cannot fail
TO be the surest and speediest causes of its
disintegration.