The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-06
A REyIEw OF THE CANVASS.

nave tOuCiuISu tudt the DetDOcrSA1c C1n-
dldates were certain of election By good
majorities. Today the same observer, If
really impartial and possessed OF good
judgment, would predict a sweeping Re-
publican victory next Tuesday. This
change has been brought about By the
utter hollowness and insincerity Of the
Democratic campaign and by the great
awakening that has taken place within
the Republican ranks.
The Democrats entered the canvass
loudly proclaiming that the city is gov
erned by vicious and corrupt ring,
whose members are growing wealthy on
public plumber. They declared John Leary
to be the tool and candidate Of this ring.
They asserted that the city was on the
verge OF bankruptcy; that it had been
shan efully plundered and luisgoverned;
that its officials had been wastefulIy eI-
travagant and reckless in the use Of public
money, and that the Republican candi-
dates stood for all that is evil, corrupt and
vicious in the community.
This has been the Democratic cry. It
cratic organ. 1t was shouted night after
night from the stump wherever Demo-
cratic speaker could gather crowd willing
to listen to his harangue. Such cry SO
loudly rsised and so often repeated at
tracted the attention of the public, and it
seemed as if a number of Republican vot-
ers were being drawn into the Democratic
ranks.
The publicis not fool, however. Noisy
assertions unaccompanied by the slightest
pretense of proof soon lose their weight.
Doubling Republicans began to notice
the flaws in the Democratic indict-
ment. Neither organ nor speakers
could be brought down to a rational dis
cussion Of municipal affairs. Democratic
speakers were challenged to meet Repub-
lican speakers in joint debate and they
failed to do SO. Organ and speakers were
repeatedly challenged to name one single
instance in which any OF those whom they
chose to designate as ''the ring" had
wrongfully taken one dollar of public
money. To this challenge they were ST.
lent. They merely redoubled their abuse
of "the ring" and made no attempt to
show wherein it was a ring or wherein
any Of its alleged members have been
guilty Of corruption.
Other defects began to appear. The
Democratic speakers, and Candidate Ron
aid was one of tine chief offenders in this,
were caught incorporating the city's
financial condition and distorting figures.
They were called to account for this, but
calmly went on with their misrepresenta-
tons in the apparent belief that the people
were either too busy or too stupid to fig
ure for themselves. 1t was apparent that
they were perfectly willing to make any
misstatement of fact that gave promise of
injuring the Republican candidates and
helping the prospects of their own. Not
only this. Boldness came with practice.
The Democrats soon began to include in
''the ring" every one who has been prom
inent in the Republican ranks. To be an
enthusiastic Republican worker was to be
charged with corruption.
The voters soon began to consider these
things. They began to wonder why, if the
Democrats knew SO much and such
fragrant corruption, they did not point
out some specific instances for the people
to consider for themselves. They began
to wonder why all the honesty in the city
should be grouped in the Democratic
party and all the dishonesty in the Re-
publican party. They began to wonder
why so many prominent Republicans
whom they had long known as men
of honor should suddenly turn out to
be knaves. They began to wonder how
John Leary, well-known business man,
who had resided in Seattle as law abiding
and respected citizen for twenty years,
had been prevailed upon to become the
champion of lawlessness and vice.
As soon as the people began 10 ask these
questions the hollowness and insincer-
ity OF the Democratic canvass be-
came apparent. 1t became evident
that the cry of corruption had been
raised for the one purpose of drawing Re-
publican voters into the Democratic ranks.
1t became evident that the Democrats had
table business men without a shadow of
justification, and that 10 actively support
the Republican party was to risk being
overwhelmed with SANDER and abuse.
When these things became known to all.
the wavering Republicans gave up all
thought Of allyIng themselves with the
Democrats, who were endeavoring to Sc
cure power by misrepresentation and
SANDER. Republicans generally were
nerved to resent and punish the
ISLANDERS against their party and their city.
Hence came the Republican awakening.
The Republican party in Seattle is now
united. enthusiastic and confident. Only
overconhdence can rob it of victory, and
overconGdence is not probable, for all re-
alize how desperate the Democrats are and
how determined the contest will be.
As for the Democrats, they are dismayed
by the Republican awakening, but they
do not give up hope. They rely upon
some roorback or more fully elaborated
lie 10 call back to their candidates the
strength which they have lost, but the
time has passed when they can catch
Republican votes with false charges and
improved assertions.
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