Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-03-20
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OIANPIt. " t>It.
FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 20, 1896.
The Duty Of the Hour.

II j. with extreme reluctance that
any trur PARTISAN takes Issue with the
leader his party has placed in power
and the forhearanCe lhat is sometimes
shown in criticism 81 acts that strike
n what may honestly be regarded as
fundamental principles, would be a
marvel but for the deeplv-grounded
fear that in the effort To avoid error
we may fall into support OF still
greater ills. The reliance placed by
the Democracy upon their means OF
promoting pure government has been
shown 10y .ealty that has excited the
admiration OF even its advcrsaries. \
party that has suffered continuous de
feat for a score OF years without caus-
ing the rank and file to finch or devi-
yiate a thread from the line OF duty
defined when the necessity for party
in harmony with the spirit of freedom
and individual rights gave birth to
an organization opposed to the tory
spirit that prevailed long after the
close OF the war for independence,
shows just that adherence to once
trusted leaders that it has for the
forms and usages by which the ground.
work has been maintained. Next to
means for promoting good govern
ment rank the means by which it may
be promoted, and the Democracy have
Away. been taught to honor its leaders
and to venerate the memory Of all
who have added prestige to its record.
1t is expected, at times, that men
may be chosen to lead who have indi-
vilual IDEAS that do not accord in all
respects with the spirit of their party
creed, but it has rarely happened that
personal preferences have been allowed
to give tone to policy that is not in
accord with majority of his party.
More seldom still has the executive Of
the nation stepped upon the rostrum
to make stump speech" in support
of policy which large majority OF
his party associates honestly con-
denim.
If an obligation OF party fealty ex.
lists Notwithstanding official acts re-
pugnant to many adherents, il is
surely absolved when the head of the
Recommendations after sending his cabi-
net officers into the fnld. himself
enters the hastings and deliberately
attempts to dictate the platform, and
to name the candidate of a Conven-
ton called by the party to perform
that specific duty.
Mr.. Cleveland seems to forget in his
advocacy of the gold standard that
there are many thousands OF the
debtor class in this country, who
firmly believe that present disaster
and impending ruin stare them in the
face from the change that has taken
place in the relative value of debts
since the one-legged financial policy
was adopted. He does not seem to
realize that this is more than a ques.
ton OF expediency to many people,
and that enforced idleness has
brought the gaunt specter Of starva.
ton to the homes of many families.
1t is natural for people, under such a
condition, to feel deeply. and if there
Is anything that may sever party ties,
with an indefinite prospect OF relief, it
is when leader deliberately attempts
to enforce policy opposed by such
an earnest protest from his own follow.
ing.
Nobody blames the patriotic hosts
thirty-fve years ago for abandonment
of party when the Union became en-
dangered, nor can anybody censure a
lax feeling of obligation when a mis-
taken policy results in want and
wretchedness in which. the toiler and
his family become objects of despair.
It is time for the party everywhere
to do as it has in Wisconsin-be formu-
lating measures for fair expression Of
sentiment upon this vital issue.
Or course it hurts Mr.. Murphy to