The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-19
MAKE SHORT WORK OF 1T.

It is TO be hoped that the legislature
viii make short work of the senatorial
election. The reasons for such course
are many and obvious, and no good
reason is assignable for proIonging the
contest. So long as that matter shall
remain unsettled it will be impossible
TO fix the attention of members upon legis-
lative questions which materially affect
the welfare of the state. With reference
to the vital interests of the state in a
prompt dispatch of the regular business
of the session, speedy disposition of the
senatorship is imperatively demanded.
Moreover, in party sense, prompt
and sensible disposition of the question is
much needed for healthful effect at the
national capital The short session of
the Fifty-first congress is rapidly drawing
to close. A heavy responsibility, fraught
with vital future consequences rests upon
the Republican majority in that body.
AT considerable sacrifices of personal pref
erenees in many cases. the Democrats in
the selection of Gordon to represent
Georgia, and in returning Pugh from
Alabama, Vance from North Carolina,
Vest from Missouri, and in preparing to
send Hill to succeed Evarts from New
York, besides retaining nearly all of their
strong men in the Senate, have enormously
encouraged and fortified their side of that
body in its pending struggle against
needed legislation which the Republicans
are striving to enact.
And among Republicans, both in the
Senate and throughout the country, there
can be no mistaking the stimulating effect
produced by the return of the old senator's,
with its quasi endorsement of their course
in the late struggles wherein they have
been engaged with the common enemy,
while both sides have realized that the
prospective defeat of ingalls,, Moody and
Others is calculated to give comfort and
support to the opposition.
No member of the legislature of this
state can reasonably doubt that the news
of the prompt reelection of Senator Squire
will vastly encourage the Republicans of
the Senate in the bitter struggle they are
now engaged in with the tireless Democ-
racy of that body, which may be life and
death struggle for party supremacy in
1s92 and thereafter. Members of the leg
islature must be aware that on the con-
trary the substitution of any other person
in place of Squire would have a demoraliz-
ing effect on Republicans throughout the
country, and especially among his fellow
senators. For in effect their course,
or the course of majority
of them, is III the balance with his. He
has been part of that majority and on all
leading party questions has stood valiantly
shoulder 10 shoulder with them.
Whatever judgment is implicitly meted
out to him will be indirectly shared by
them. In effect the retirement of Senator
Squire could not be construed otherwise
than rebuke by the Republicans of this
state for the heroic efforts and achieve
ments of the Republican majority in both
branches of the present congress. They
would thus be ably and most seriously
seconding the vile assaults that have been
made upon the Republican majority by
Democratic newspapers and public speak
erS. Unless the Republicans of the legis-
lature are inclined TO aid and abet the De-
moeracy in this manner, they will abjure
all petty considerations and at once re-
elect Senator Squire