The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-26
SxArrLE. MONDAY. FEN. r..
sMAMEL Ess ATTACKS OK N0MI-
MES.

The perversity OF men who win not be
convinced may not be overcome BY the
logic Of facts, but the good common sense
OF the people at large may always be de-
pended upon 20 assert itself in tho end.
An effort will no doubt pc made, par
ticularly by Democrats. to insinuate that,
because the nominees selected on Satur-
day were chosen By party convention,
they mus. necessarily BIO srbseryient to
the party Is interests.
Mr.. Byron Phelps, the nominee for
mayor, and Mr.. J. NJ. +. Atkinson, now
candidate for the Office OF city treasurer,
were solicited by very prominent men,
bers Of the Citizens committee TO accept
nominations for Office. Are they any
worse men now than they were two weeks
age7 They were besought to take the
nominations. although they were well
known 10 be Republicans. but declined
until the pressure of public opinion In
duced them 10 yield their own prefer
encss.
No man can truthfuliy say that either
Mr.. Phelps or Mr.. Atkinson wonld permit
himself to DO dictated to or to falsify all
his past lifo and present reputation by as
renting to any proposition of an improper
character.
It 10 Infamous that disappointed
Democrats and irresponsible mischief
makers should impute unworthy
purposes and sinister motives to
honorable men who have been
earnestly besought. by great gathering
of citizens of all ranks and conditions, to
assume the burdens and responsibilities of
pabiic office at most critical time The
tactics Of the faithless officials now In
Office. seeking by every device known to
political chicanery to retain the trust
they have SO wantonly betrayed. should
sting into indignant remonstrance every
citizen who seas an earnest desire to elect
good men to office baked BY vicious
whisperings Of suggestions which no self
respecting man can hear without resent
msns
Byron Phelps Is q man OF unusual
strength OF character. He has demon
strated In every state OF . varied expert
encs that he thinks and acts for himself
The reputation OF Mr.. Atkinson, of Mr..
Stewart and of Mr.. Scott Is such as would
entitle them To the esteem of any COM
munity.
Il In little wonder that sensitive men
shrink from public duty when their action
only makes them the object of most unde-
served, shameless and interested attack.
II these men, who stand now exposed to
the full force OF public criticism, are not
protected by sense of honor on the part
oft people from the vile caiumny and
yiier-because not open to refutation--in-
situations against their moral rectitude
and problsy. then there is little hope of Sc
curing many desirable men for public of.
fee.
Criticism is desirable, the records of the
nominated men should DO subjected to
scrutiny, the people should give their
votes or withhold them as tneir judgment
dictates. bus We appeal TO the mauliness,
the good common sense of the people Of
seaitlr not TO cast aside ali the rules by
which men are measured, not 10 let
whispered malice ignore all the evidence
OF pure, good lives. not TO discard the tes-
timony of their own knowledge, but to
judge as they would themselves be judged.
No better assurance could be given of
sincerity of purpose than the care with
which only. tried men were chosen by the
Republican convention. They need no
defenders. and Il the people will but exer-
cise their faculties of observation and re-
tit.~tEaa fh@x meal F,ot haSsfa.a >, ,....-~..
ously stand by their own good judgment.