Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-08-21
The Ellensburg Conventions.

When it is taken into account how
difficult it is to find any score of men
of precisely the same mind on given
proposition, and how difficult it is
found sometimes to secure q verdict of
less number on precisely the same
evidence and presentation of a case, it
is not surprising that there should
have been some evidence manifested
of mans combative nature in an az.
semblage of over a thousand delegates
under three distinct organizations.
The wonder is. with the trait OF selfish
ness so largely developed in human
nature, that so fair and equitable an
agreement could have been secured
within the short time afforded for de-
liberation, and we hazard nothing in
asserting that it was solely owing to
the patriotic impulse that pervaded all
three of the Conventions.
At times when the spirit of party
pride, or a scramble for place, or q
grudge against some aspirant for
favor, or other cause, aroused dissen-
ton that threatened to block all hope
of union, bare reference to the great
issue at stake, the mighty inter-
ests involved and the far reaching
consequences OF a misstep, at once
subdued all animosity. 1t was liter
ally "oil on the troubled waters" and
as the needle to the pole, veered the
great heart of the majority in each
towards the great duty OF the hour,
the work in hand.
Represented in the three Conven-
tions were men from all stages and
conditions of life. The professional
class were largely represented in the
Silver and Democratic Conventions,
although there was large sprinkling
of Cuisines men" and of toilers in
the latter. The Populist Convention
was made up almost entirely of the
hardy sons of toll, there being just
enough of lawyers and doctors to sup
port the idea that the Peoples Party
had not been forgotten by the willy
politician as possible means OF per-
sonal advancement under the old idea
that only the learned professions af-
forded acceptable material for official
service. If the Populists were want
ing in the suavity of the Silver men or
the urbanity OF the Democrats, they
made up for it in an earnestness that
is capable of great achievements. If
the average Populist ignores those
amenities which grease the hinges Of
society and has profound contempt
for those Chesterfeldian graces so
essential in the so-called "higher"
walks OF life, it must be admitted that
he has fixedness OF purpose and an
earnestness of endeavor that ia 4
prime essential in surmountiug diff
culties.
It was observed that when any lac
Grafton was attempted in the Silver or
Democratic Convention, the instru-
ment used was q razor whetted in oil
and the operation was performed with
. smile that afforded an imperturb-
able mask to the beating -throbs
which guided the sinews; but when
the eye rested upon the contending
Populist it was discovered that his
weapon was bludgeon, and his visage
the index to the soul-betrayed
with the accuracy OF q steam gauge
just the amount of feeling that nerved
the blow. And the difference of ex-
preston of approval was just as
marked. In the Silver Convention
there was stately dignity in the frater-
nal hand-shake, diplomatic form OBJ
served in expressions OF admiration
and courtly observance of those
trifies light as air which characterize
the intercourse of the sages who in
Dean Swift's Philosophers Isle lived
with their heads above the clouds.
The Democrats, with due respect for
the forms of social intercourse, main.
tanned, nevertheless, q love for that
freedom and unrestraint embodied in
the Jacksonian simplicity from which
the life and vigor of the party of the
people sprang. While they can love
or hate as intensely as the extremes OF
the tripartite alliance, and can cut as
deep in verbal warfare, or damn with
faint or exalt with sincere praise, there
is general spirit of respect and for
bearance-a reserve force, as it were
constantly observed, which holds in
check any movement calculated to
disintegrate their forces. When we
turn the object-glass upon the Pop.
ulist, however, we find wholly differ.
ent personal identity. Very little at.