The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-06
EAGLE Or PEACOCK CANDIDATE.

There seems to be in every state a class
of petty politicians who go riding about
provided with political war map upon
which they mark with red letters when
Smith had something as plea why Smith
should stand aside for Jones. The state
or the municipality has no interest in this
plotting of the field of politics; they have
no interest save the best service. If Smith,
by natural or acquired ability and worth,
easily sits at the head of the table, why
should he step down and out and surren-
der his seat to some tedious and awkward
political clown who thinks he would like
il. There ought to be no "turn" about it,
save when man can compare titles of
ability and service with his peers and take
his seat by force of high-mounting merit.
The survival of the fttest" should be the
answer TO the question, who shall be the
candidate2 IL is not fairly a question of
aspiration ut all, for an imbecile might ask
for the earth or a seraph's halo to play
with. The best n n that can be obtained
and elected should be in ali places OF
public trust, whether they have been
crowned with public office before or not
Retire the feeble; put the stalwart 10 the
front, and promote no man on the stupid
plea that he wants to be promoted because
il is "his turn to have something"
1t is this stupid theory of politics and
public trusts that periodically puts
sleek and SNUG mediocrity in power.
that makes a bargain and sale,
booty and beauty, loot and ga
loot mess of politics. The average
voter knows the difference between aspir-
alton and ability, but frequently out OF
pure good nature he prefers the silly.
strident-yoiced peacock Of aspiration TO
the strong-winged eagle of ability. 1t is
poor policy, for if there is no reason why
n man should be nominated for a respons-
ible public Office save that he wants il
and that lit is his turn" he would better
be left at home. Nominating conventions
have become little better than political
basket lunch party or target excursion,
where bummers and blowhards assemble
10 ventiIate their arrogated consequence.
There is no need of the lantern of
Diogenes II discover the proportions
of capable man, but we do need
an electric light of great power to
make out the foggy political phantoms
who think an Office converts the evangelist
of a petty caucus into a statesman. The
public business needs men who do not find
it necessary TO offer aflidavits to their own
personal ability and worth: the public
business ought TO be put in charge of con-
spicuous character, despite the whimper-
ing protest of illustrious obscurities who
think 1T is their turn" Itisnobody's
turn; il is always the turn Of men Of emf
hence for ability and worth that have
lifted them into the rank of conspicuous
citizens.
The moral and mental vision OF Ping
leaders is not seldom too dull to recognize
any obligations Of public equity and in
terest in such matters, and so the people.
when they ought To have had an eagle for
q standard, are fobbed off with some old.
soiled, political setting hen, or strutt,ng.
squawking peacock, as the cheap sign
under which to conquer. When the people
want full man with something Of the
mettle Of the racer in him they not seldom
get bricS-yard mule or hroken-winded,
spawned family horse. The people need
candidates whose fame is not a matter
Of dim tradition, aud whose honorable
history there is no need to support by aili-
davis
The peacock Of aspiration rather than
The eagle Of ability is generally the favorite
OF the professional political war map"
makers, who range up and down the field
looking for the peacock candidate who at