Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-06-05
The Election in Portland.


Some very unusual features were
observed in the State canvass lust
closed in Oregon, so far at least as it
applies to the metropolis of that COM
monwealth. The excitement ran SO
high that Sunday night rcligio-polit-
ical meeting was held in the Marouam
Grand by the leading clergymen of
the city to emphasize" AS they de-
clared, " sincerity of righteousness in
municipal and political affairs and the
sacredness of the ballot" This meet
ing was held in place of the regular
Sunday evening church services, in
what Rev. DR.. Bright would character.
ize "a devils workshop" and pastors
of the First and Calvary Presbyterian
churches, the Grace Methodist church,
the church of Our Father (Unitarian),
of Trinity (EpiscopaD and the priest
OF the Roman Catholic Cathedral, sat
together in brotherly fellowship on the
stage, and addresses were delivered by
Rev. Father O'Dea, Revs. Thomas L.
Cole, I. l.. Eliot, Edgar P. Hill and
DIR. Henry Rasmus. The latter, in in
Producing his remarks, said:
You are the witnesses of spectacle
that you never looked upon before. A
priest of the church of Rome, clergy
man of the liberal faith, an Episcopal
and Presbyterian divine and Methodist
minister all on the same platform and
for the the same cause. What is the oc-
casiOn of this curious situation? Has
the millennium come? Not that anybody
is aware of. But it is to bring about as
near approach as possible this condition
in the city of Portland that this unique
service is held. From the earliest mem
DRY of the oldest inhabitant the city was
never so stirred as now to free herself
from the grasp of insufferable politi-
Clans"
The inquiry very naturally arises,
Why was this spectacle unique? Why
ia it that the representatives OF a COM
mon faith and universal fatherhood,
may not assemble to promote purity
of the public service and free the city
from at the grasp of insufferable politi-
cians," without thought of the speedy
dawn of that millennial season when
faction shall cease and all unite in
hallelujahs of praise to Almighty God2
Is it not that these well-meaning peo-
pie have hitherto been very far apart
in promoting good citizenship, and
have only discovered their duty when
it is forced upon them by all unusual
and threatening ill2 That profiigacy
in official life at a time when the tax
payers are grooming under burdens
imposed by an inadequate return from
property values, is ample justification
for breaking down of those barriers
erected by the prejudices OF sect, is
readily accepted by the writer rs the
true motive, to keep from obtrusion
that other explanation which implies
an intolerance that does not harmon
ize with the spirit of free government.
If the very unusual clerical move
ment was prompted by prejudice, no
less felt because unexpressed, against
Mr.. Cohen, simply because of his re-
ligion, then we say it was ill-advised /;
but let US hope that more charitable
incentive prompted the action.
Another indication OF the deeply
wrought feeling was a movement OF
the leading business men to give up
the day to the election, and an agree
ment was signed to close the stores at
noon. In point of fact many business
houses were closed before that hour,
and the example was very generally
followed by the retail stores. Large
crowds congregated at the polling
places, but under the Australian sys.
tenn the best of order was very gener-
ally preserved. and the balloting went
on quietly all over the city.