Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-12-16
An Admonitlon.

An Admonition.
The Capital threatens to ini'ict a
new daily upon our already newspaper
ridden community. There Is about a.
much use for tro dallies in this city
Us there is for the proverhial fifth
wheel to the wagon, and even one
would be compelled to cut It's expenses
TO the lowest figure to make profit
from its legitimate patronage.
But as long as we have in our
midst schemng and ambitious poll
ticians, just to long, We presume, may
be found the individual who is con-
tent for the dubious honor OF being
an editor" or publisher" to de-
vote energy and business capacity to
avid chase for the evanescent dollars
necessary to keep his venture afloat
and his head above water. II he does
not possess the vitality for constant
effort, nor that close ju lgment which
extracts "blood from a turnip," he
will soon sink beneath q turbulant
flood. II he does not possess these
qualities in an eminent degree, far
better prospect Of success would be
afforded, and wider field of indepen-
dence occupied, as superintendent OF a
well-regulated laundry, or as the hum
bic but honest manipulation of boot
blackery.
This is the deliberate opinion OF
one who has spent the average dura-
ton of human life in the political
harness, as the publisher of a party
journal. He can look back upon the
earnest endeavors Of score of years
in the prime of life, when he placed
all the vitality of manhood, and the
accumulations of many years of hard
labor into the project of keeping olire
the only Democratic journal in the
Territory. Its publication each sue
ceeding year left him poorer than
the one which preceded it, by just
the amount of money he could make
outside of the newspaper business, but
blind devotion to principle induced a
pursuit of the ignis fatuus until 20 joy
to the weary spiritD his party came
into power! After twenty years of q
march in the wilderness his party was
permitted glimpse of the Promised
Land!
But 10, and behold When his
party came into power, it was discov-
cred that its principles were so pure
that no suspicion of sordid greed must
attach to their advocates; that the
only way to show the world that the
party was unselfsh in its twenty years
of steadfast advocacy of what it be-
lieved to be right, was an abnegated
spirit and a remuneration OF all emolu.
ments which might 60 to pay up past
losses. This was such new construc-
ton Of the doctrines and usages of the
old-time fathers Of Democracy, that it
was an impalatable dose, but as is al
ways expected of good children it was
gulped down and the hozannahs to
principle seemed to rise with just as
much harmony as if there did not ex-
list somewhere q vague feeling that
justice had been outraged without any
apparent compromising benefit. The
STANDARDS devotion during the dark
hours Tor, Democracy was rewarded by
the retention of . Republican Secre-
tary, during the whole four years of
Mr.. Cleveland's term. who farmed out
the public printing, worth from $l0,-
600 to $4,000 q year, to Clarence B.
Bagley and Thomas H. Cavanaugh,
rabid Republicans, 10 enable them to
make effective the labors of the Cour-
Ter and the Pdrtisan, most uncrompro-
missing foes of President Cleveland, the
Democratic party and the STANDARD.
This may have been right, but We yet
fail to get it through the intricacies OF
the brain-power the Almighty gave US.
that it was just. And this illustrates
the truth Of the position taken at the
outset, that under the most favorable
conditions the profits for party jour.
nalism are unsatisfactory and uncer.
tain.
Notwithstanding this injustice the
STANDARD never wavered.s It stead.
lastly supported all the good the Ad-
Ininistration did. and said nothing oil
acts that affected mainly personal in.
terests of party advocates. When Mr.
Cleveland was renominated in 1888, il
was fondly hoped that the party had
given enough proofs Of its unseltish
and unmercenary nature, for its leader
to follow thereafter in the footsteps oil
q jackson, and the STANDARD cordially
supported his claims. But it seems
We were to be chastened BY defeat, to
be resurrected this year and placed on
the pinnacle of glory. The STANDARD
did its best to accomplish this result
Wsuld the Capital know just how
much prestige and support it has
secured BY this straightforward coursei
It will tell you. A few of the lead.
ing men who do their thinking with
their brains, accord it credit for con-
sistency, zeal, industry, perseverance,
and patriotism. These gentlemen
likewise accord credit for q moderate
amount OF ability editorially, and COM
mon sense in the management Of busi.
ness affairs. But there some whose
little souls are 30 completely filed
with envy that they cannot acknowl-
edge q peritorious act in anybody.
These smalEiry politicians, just Is they
did four years ago, begin the moment
success is achieved to avail themselves
0fL L. Al m -