The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-21
MORAL COURAGE IN OFFICE.

The nomination of John II. McGraw for
governor by the state Republican conven-
ton at Olympia was the only thing neces-
sary to victory in November, for it gives
every good citizen man, not q milk.
SOP. a doer, not dude, to vote for. 1t
was easy to make q mistake in the selec-
ton of a candidate tor governor this year,
for presidential year there is always a
strong pressure to nominate mere vote
catchers and demagogues for standard
bearers, rather than men of sturdy,
pugnacious personality and aggressive
force.
1t never pays to fill an important public
trust with demagogue, but the worst
possible use to make of q popular dema-
gogue is to clothe him with important
executive responsibility, like that Of sher-
iff of county or governor, who is prac-
tically the supreme sheriff of the state.
The perfunctory duties and ordinary re-
sponsibllities of the governors position do
not demand more than mediocre capacity
and respectable intelligence. but the pos
sible responsibilities Of the governors Of
flee need for their proper discharge man
of superior energy, promptness, sagacity,
resolution, and above all, need man Of
tried and proved moral courage. The
presence or the absence Of the quality of
high moral courage in an executive officer
make or mar him. Vast moral courage
made President Jackson's administration
a most glorious page in our history, while
the lack, not of intellect. but moral cour-
age, made President Buchanan's admins
tration record Of political cowardice and
civic shame. Moral courage made Grant
invincible; the lack of it made Mcclellan,
in spite of all his fine professional schol-
arship, military failure. This quality Of
moral courage of course has no place in
the composition of political demagogue,
and therefore in times of civic
turbulence and trial. demagogue sher-
ifs and demagogue governors are
always a curse to the state. Instead Of
simply inquiring what is their official duty
under the law and at once proceeding to
do it without fear or favor demagogue ex-
ecutives. large and small, are always try
ing to treat lawlessness and public dis
order with rose water and cologne.
Your sound executive, whether sheriff
or governor, is the man that nips riot in
| the bud; who holds that to prevent 3 riot
by prompt display of force is more eco
| nomical than to allow Eiot to gather for
| midable head before taking steps for its
lssuppression. Governor Hayes, of Ohio.
and Governor Barstow, of Vermont. pre-
vented serious mining disturbances by
promptly ordering troops to the spot at
| the frs. call of the sheriff. Governor Pat
tison. of Pennsylvania, deliberated when
he should have acted, and the Result
was a fearful riot. which the prompt
support of the sheriff would have pre-
| vented. Governor Buchanan of Tennes-
| see is another illustration of governor
| that was not equal TO the occasion.
The peculiar strength of John Fl. Me-
| Graw in our judgment is that he possesses
| in high degree this quality of moral
| courage in Office. without which an ex-
| ecutive is worthless for his work This
| quality John Ii. McGraw has shown all
| his days. lie has shown il in his resoIute
| and successful effort to conquer calamity
| and wiring victory out Of depressing cir
, cumstances that would have been 20 most
men held of hopeless defeat: he has
| shown IN public and private life this
| crucial quality of seli-reliant. aggressive
moral courage. which under the dis
| cipline of difficulty has become stead
| lily developed and has always been
| equal TO every occasion. As a
! Sheriff John II. McGrag manifested this
moral courage in Office during the riots of
| 1886 So. and he did his whole duty with
| out fear. so that today he is without re-
| proach. This moral courage in office no
| doubt decreased his popularity with the
iawless classes and their sympathizers,
bu; We do not make rnen Sher!fs and gov
ernors in order TO increase their popu
larliy, bu. 10 protect tie Fundamental