The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-26
sEAr1LE, sArURDAT. DEC. e6.



The party newspaper is popularity eI-
pected to whitewash party weakness; 70
INTERESTINGLY support the party candi-
dates. This doctrine cannot be an infier-
ibls rule In practice. Every newspaper
knows that cooperation and organization
are necessary 70 procure any substantial
party progress for sound public policy.
that concession and compromise are gen.
orally the most effective craftsmanship. A
newspaper can sink mere objections 20 q
candidates manner, temper and even 20
personal infrmities that stand for sins OF
the blood Is separated from sins Of
the spirit, for the sake Of party
unity and harmony. The Continental
Congress gent Franklin 20 Europe
the agent Of the colonies when he was
known TO be the father and supporter OF
an nlegitimate child; il wisely clothed
him with this great diplomatic trust. in
spite Of this blemisn on mis- private life. be-
cause he was known 10 possess the public
talents, tact, temper, integrity and patriot
ism invaluable for the public duty given
him to discharge. The newspaper knows
that saints cannot always, nor often, be
elected 10 office, and even when they are
elected they are sometimes grossly ineffi-
Gent
Some men mean well and govern
wretchedly, while SONG men who do not
always lean 20 virtues side always gov
ern well; that is, they do their pub
lie duty efficiently under Law. Be-
cause a man IS not calculated
to be at the head Of a female seminary is
no reason why he should be denied many
other places OF public trust so Frankln's
paternity OF an Legitimate child vas not
regarded by the Continental Congress as
sufficient reason Why be should not as q
patriot and statesman represent the strug-
cling colonies before the British parlia-
ment and at the court OF France. The
saints and the sinners who make up So
ciety must inevitably share in its govern
ment and the press does well in politics
not TO forget the distinction between the
drinker and the drunkard, the card player
and the card sharp: the distinction be-
tween the sinner and the criminal
But suppose instead of the sin Of the
blood imputed to Franklin, he had been
known to be a man capable Of treachery
TO public trust; q man of venality, a
man without veracity-then congress
would have been bound in common
sense TO have rejected him. Insdelity TO
public or private trust could not have
been excused as triiing flaw in the
diamond of his character; for it is fairly
described as necrosis Of the bone of
moral manhood. So with party news
paper. Nine men out OF ten nomi-
mated by its party for public trust
can generally be accepted, 80 long
as il IL quarrel OF opinion
a. TO natural intellectual capacity
and acquired intelligence. But sup
pose that man notorious for treachery
10 public trusts, captures convention by
escalade or under ground work, what then?
Is party newspaper then bound 70 sus-
tain the nomination? No. II is its duty
TO reject such anomination, if for no other
reason, hecauseit is for the party's interest
TO be taught that it is not safe 10 nominate
for public trust notorious traitors in the
past to public or private trusts. 4 high
standard of public service can only be
fixed by the press standing up for the
people and helping to force the
political and social convict of the
ticket or defeating him at the polls.
When the moral disability for a public
trust is not a question of opinion, but
notorious fact, no mere depreciation will
do; nothing short of condemnation and
reputation. If the candidate has stolen
sheep or forged note. tina; is question
Of fact, and no conventions action can
condone the offeuse OF supporting such
candidate on the part OF a newspaper that
knows he is 4 scoundrel. whose BETRAYAL
OF public trust is not n matter Of opiu-
ion az ell, but Of notorious official conduct
and career. When = party through reck-
lessness, ignorance or indifference nom
mates scoundTel the limitation OF
concession AMI compromise for party
unity and harmony OF action
has been reached. A cunning stroke Of
caucus strategy NAV nominate scoundrel,
but cannot change his color; it cannot
make corruption put on interruption, and
no newspaper can afford 70 exchange its
conscience. its conviction. its knowledge
for the ignorance. incredibly or the in
difference of any man or set OF men either
within or without the party.
The business Of a newspaper is not 10
play hEebug. but frebell. The party
newspaper can sometimes afford 10 sup
port proved medioerlty, but il cannot AFFORD
60 accept proved knave under the party
whip. IN al essentials harmony, in
all non-essentials charity: but it is not
charity nor wise compromise 10 swallow
corrupt candidate because the party
caucus or convention has been crazy or ig-
norsnt enough 10 swallow him. The party
machine is = necessity, but the machine
must prove its title 70 life BY its work. A
notorious rascal should be scotched with
his record 80 defeat, AMI smutted with his
record in victory or defeat If The ma
chine nomina.es a shoddy .ooundrel for
ssatesman's work the machine must re-
form or take the risk Of being smash ed st
the polls
kHAkRTKARK AND CHRIzTNka