Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-11-09
Tn Olive Branch


10y his party And then the Olunpian
goes on to say that " ii Mr. Murphy Is !
sincere" he will not take back the
bad things he has said Of hi. brother 1
journalist after s.ection is over. That !
II the unhIndc,t cut oi ali; to shut !
the door t. n rrconcliiatlon-a "hlss |
and make up, as 1t wcre-will keep the !
heart bowed down for many days, and
and should Il spirit OF lcyity hereafter |
iilImlne these columns, it should be |
borne IN mind it is written amid tribu- |
lation and anguish OF spirit, literal
veriiication OF that other pathetic
song
." I'm sadlest when sing"
But then the veriest offender is en-
titled to enter the plea OF =" not guilty"
and to introduce evidence in that be-
hall. So we essay that hopeless task
after judgment has been rendered, in
the hope OF securing some mitigation
OF sentence, at least, if We cannot OBJ
tain absolute pardon.
The Indictment charges that we
have stigmatized Mr.. Scobey as being
"a fifth rate man." Mr.. Henry a.
" an indifferent teacher" Mr.. Root as
" an apologist for criminals" Mr.. Gel
bach as "a careless official" Mr..
Osborne as a reckless COMMISSIONS"
Mr. Leach as "a fool" Mr.. CASTOR as
"a knifer" and Judge Gordon as "an
alien" and it asserts, with a refrain as
doleful as the Nevermore" OF the
Raven, that the writer must continue
to stigmatize" these gentlemen, and
indeed requests us mot to forget to
do our duty" after election.
When the STANDARD asserted that
Mr.. Scobey was tifth-rate man Gf it
did that is certainly no disparage-
ment. To rate as fifth in the grand
array of American craftsmanship, is
no mean classification, unless a per-
son possesses an enlarged bump OF
self-veneration; and as far as regards
the other counts we believe that some
OF them at least are sustained by the
record, and as requested, we shall be
consistent enough to reaffirm them as
the veri.able truth. The degree OF
confidence that may be placed in a
verdict OF the people, influenced as it
is largely by passion, prejudice and
selfish personal interests, is shown by
the superior vote polled by Mr.. Scobey's
colleague, man VIGOROUSLY destitute
of the qualifications necessary for an
efficient legislator. That he leads Mr..
Scobey in the estimation of the people
should convince that gentleman that
political reward is by no means based
upon merit.
Now let us see for a moment what
justice there is in the claim made by
the Olympiam thatit has not REFLECTED"
upon the Democratic ticket in q single
instance. 1t abused Mr.. Cation, in
the choicest OF billingsgate; made out
Mr.. Mitchell liar, and never missed
an opportunity for giving the opposi-
ton candidates q dig in the side.
This was all excusable and to be ex-
pected during a political campaign,
and had the Olympian entirely ignored
that duty simply because its editor
was candidate and essayed the diff
cult task OF carrying water ON both
shoulders, it would have been the
legitimate subject of criticism from its
party and the candidates it proiessed
to advocate. The dement's of candi-
dates are as much the proper object
OF discussion AS the peculiar fitness of
aspirants for official position. Amy
other view OF duty would weaken the
obligation OF citizenship as exercised
at the polls. The voter has right to
know everything in relation to a can
didate that will aid him in placing a
proper estimate on the kind, and
amount OF service. he is likely to re-
ceive in return for his support.
The writer had thought he had by
no means transgressed any of the
bounds of courtesy, or overstepped the
amenities usually observed between
political opponents during a closely
contested campaign. His conscience,
at least, approves all he has done to ad-
vance principles he believes to be best
calculated for the public welfare. He
still believes they are right, and are
only trampled under foot by superior
organization that was rendered i'm
pregnable by the cohesive power OF
public plumber. That the future will
verify this judgment he confidently
believes, and he is willing to submit
the matter to that test.