Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-12
a S4LUTARY LESSON

Il SALtIARI LESSON
The Republicans of Whatcom county
may well take counsel from the whole
sale rebuke administered to the leaders
of the "King county ring" at Seattle
Tuesday. The people had reached a
point where patience had ceased to be
virtue. 1t was not a question Of pol
itics, although party lines were drawn
at the instance of the bosses who
thought by so doing, inasmuch as the
city is really strongly Republican, they
would be more likely to command the
support necessary to the continuance of
their power. But they mistook the
temper of the people, and underestt-
mated their intelligence. Heroic treat
ment was necessary to eradicate the
evil of ring rule. The people were
equal to the emergency. The triumph
Is their triumph and it has little or no
political significance. Our enthusiastic
Democratic friends i'm this locality may
not agree with us just now in this OBJ
servation, but they will realize the
force of it clearly enough when the bal
lots are counted after the general cleo
ton this fall. The people of King
county have not repudiated Republi-
can principles. They have simply as
serted their independence as American
citizens, and announced that they
have had enough of the rule of ward
heelers and ring-masters, who have
been Republicans for revenue only.
Principles cut but very small figure
in the politics Of such men as the
Clancys', Burns, O'Donnell and
the White gang. 1t is only a
question of Doodle with them. The
most corrupt element in the party hav-
ing secured control of the party organ
izatlon its defeat was necessary to
protect the people against the eXtrava-
gance and thievery of a venal ring.
The lesson was well deserved and the
party should profit by it. 1t should
teach the rank and file to exercise
better judgment i'm their choice of lead
ers and not permit their party
nominations to be dictated by men
who know no principle i'm politics and
who regard public office simply as a
private snap. There seems to be a dis.
position in some quarters to hold John
McGraw responsible in large meas
ure for the condition of political affair,
at Seattle. We may be mistaken but
we do not believe the censure is de
served. Mr.. McGraw is not only 8
shrewd politician but he is a zealou.
and loyal Republican and not mar
who caters to or has anything in com
mon with the heelers to whose influ
ence Harry White owed his nomina
ton and election. 1t is true that h,
worked early and late to secure tn,
election of Senator Squire, and tn,
party may be 10th to forgive him fo
that, but it was because King county
Republicans would not unite on am
other man, and Mr.. McGraw is 70
King county first, last and all TIN
time. 1t is very well known, however
that the Seattle senator was not TIN
choice of Mr.. McGraw, and that tina
astute politician does not entertain
very high opinion of him. Quite tn
contrary, in fact. But that is imma
terial now. The people of Seattle hay
placed the seal of their cond ,mnatioI
upon the operations of the local ring
and it now rests with the people of thi
and other counties to see that il
branches receive the pruning necessar
to promote the healthy growth of tn
party tree. There has been too muc
bossism in this county, and if it is nc
checked there will be surprise part
here at no very distant day somewha
after the style of the one in Seattle.