The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-03-05
WAS TT GOOD crrrzrssHPs

Usually when q campaign closes. by the
elertson OF one set OF men and the defeat Of
another. by the acceptance OF one parfy's
principles ard the rejection Of anosher's.
hands are shaken. campaign speeches are
forgotten and thu controversies are good
naturedly put by I'll another contest opens.
There are features about the municipal
slsctson Of this year, however. which demand
earnest consideration by our citizens be-
yond the closing OF the polls. There are
warnings afforded by II which must not
pass unheeded; lessons TO be learned while
the echoes Of the conflict stu ring in our
ears: and. most important OF all. there was
on at,itu1e taken toward our gravest In
tsrests which call for the stsrnest rebuke.
Magnaninity for a defeated foe goes out
of meH's hearts only when that foo Is wor~
thy and fights honorably. IL does not reach
cut it's hard 10 traitors. but bears its sword
seady at any time to complete the work Of
setribuii0n. Such task lies before this
city today. That such & candidate as pre-
scented himself for mayor Of this city backed
by the Populists and a few Democrats
should resolve 100 votes in population
Intelligent AZ this processes 10 be Is not only
q stigma upon our name. but a menace to
our security. Fer the deluced toiier. fas-
cinated by the simmer OF sDecIous prom
tses. with no knowledge of human nature
and little familiarity with the artiflces of
che political eharlatan. we may have COM
niseration and find excuses. But upon the
men of standing In the community. who pal
tered with the city's honor and would have
yielded II up 10 the seorn of the country
20 that only they be,tcred their condition
or advanced their own interests. the In
dgnant wrath OF wronged people should
be pour IN In rain OF yitrioi. IL is to-
DAY. WI memory OF the wrong stands
out saartiy ard clearly that the AK OF retri-
button should be sharpened and kept ready
for action until by persistence and repare-
ton tho guilty have been purged.
We feel satisfied that the great majority
or those who voted to turn this city over TO
n mere masker In the domino OF sincerity. a
hummer In the robe OF Popuiism. whose
promises offered for support were an insult
60 mems crednisty and an affront 20 the en-
tire communicates great majority who
voted for him did u I'm ignorance OF the
true character OF the candidate. But not
all: there were. We say 1t in indignant an
ger. men who knew better: men who have
lived In this community for years. who are
shrewd men OF the world. reading human
nature with persplcaeity and divining mo-
tives with unerring intuition. men whose
lives are linked with Seattle and whose
livelihood depends upon tho welfare OF
their neighbogs-sneh men as these led the
unsophisticated and slow witted who mute
ly follow tho lead OF ready takers and
plausible whisperers-icd them shamefally
sstray.
This is q phase OF the situation which
can best ee seen when an election IL over;
and while NE deprec&te the perpetuasioa
Of raneor or the keeping open OF wounds.
we feel tina, this Is altogether too serious
q matter 60 be laughed OF the day after.
together with tho jsbes and Jokes OF a pollti-
cal campaign. We were as near tho precl-
psce as Seattle viii ever set on Tuesday,
and were always Tar enough from its edge
60 he comfortably safe. but Il was not due
20. nor the wish OF. the mea 10 whom We
refer