Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-03-06
Washlnatua STANDARD
OLYMPIA. WASH.
EElNM EVENING. MARCH 6. 1896.
Dull Platitudes Will Not Do.

expenditures, appears t" "ut-lierod
lItrnI in ii> advocacy o: rctrcuchment.
Il will be- >tcn, however. that it, state.
mcnt-. and what little argument there
can be drawn from them, are vertable
apples OF Sodom, lair 10 the eye but
falling into ashes at bare touch.
In series OF lAhorcd articles it has
been publishing the past week, in a
vain endeavor TO show that the Re
publican party is not directly respon-
sible for the present alarming condi-
ton OF public finances, the official Or
gan says:
"Thcrc is no question but that the en-
tire party is i'll harmony with the idea OF
the utmost possible economy i'll public
matters, consistent with an efficient
public service. Economy should not he
placed upon the basis OF hard times. 1t
should be a continuing principle at all
times-when money is i'll every man $
pocket, when products are i'll demand
and remunerative in price, when mills
are running, when everybody has work,
when all men are laying up wealth,
when times are good-economy should
then be the watch word as well as when
every industry is depressed and every
body is hard pressed to meet the most
necessary expenses OF existence"
That, it requires no particular de-
gree of perspicuity to discover, i, the
language Of the professional dema-
gogue. Like some party platforms, it
is merely rodomontade and means
nothing. Like the utterances of many
party leaders, it is only intended to
divert attention from the selfish and
sinister motives OF seekers for power
and place.
1t goes without saying that any
party which desires to maintain the
confidence of the public should guar
anty az economic an administration
as is consistent with good service; but
to intimate that the exigencies of the
times and the wage-rate may not leave
something to do with deciding what
shall be fair compensation for COM
petent service, is begging the question,
and creating an impression not war
ranted by facts. The people hold and
earnestly contend that, as good pub
lie service can be afforded now, for the
same or less compensation, as four or
five years ago, before the gold standard
had added at least thirty per cent. to
the purchasing value of the salary
dollar. These salaries could, therefore,
stand cut to that amount without
any appreciable diminution. This
fact was as perceptible at the begin
ming of last year, when the legislature
met, as it is now; but all efforts to
amend the law by Republican law
makers were in vain. Delegations Of
county officers constituted an effective
lobby during the whole session, and
the members we're thereby very easily
kept in line for policy that prom
Used innumerable "openings" for its
numerous aspirants.
The Olympian will, however, discover
in the course of time that direct issue
will be taken by nine-tenths of our
people on the proposition that Econ
omy should not be placed upon the
basis of hard times" There is just
where it should be placed. Self-pres-
ervation is universally acknowledged
to be the first law of nature, and when
the struggling farmer, the despairing
mechanic, or the head OF any family
who have to economic and scrimp to
make their expenses meet an occa-
sional days wages, sees his property
advertised for sale to keep up pre-.
ferred salary fund, it will be exceed
ipgly difficult to convince him that
economy should not be based upon
hard times"
The Olympiam. in its discussions Of
matters of public importance should
remember that there are two sides to
every question, and sometimes take a
glance at the opposite side, if for no
other purpose than to keep it from
making a "jack" of itself, as it has
done in the treatment of this subject.
In times OF plenty, economy ia q
watchword" that every Office-seeker
rolls as a delicious morsel over his
tongue, without much thought being
given the matter by the man he asks
to vote for him; but in times of want
and suffering like these, his ears have
been quickened, and no general plati-
tudes will do. He wants Reform, Re.
trenchment and Economy, and they
must be set to tune which indicates
Sincerity as we'll.
One of our Revolutionary patriots
declared that there "Is no better way
of judging Of the future than by the
past; and if we take this for an index
of the future of the Republican party,
where, o where, can we find glimmer
of hope!
HAVE not the people had about
enough of the sprosperity" attending
our one.legged money system9 Is is
not patent to the most obtuse intel
lect that there is a cause for present
conditions, and that that cause lies at
the very foundation of our financial
structure? Has not the experience OF
century, three.fourths Of which was
attended by universal prosperity under
bimetallism, and the remainder by un.
paralleled financial depression, poverty
and misery to the masses of the pee.
nle undAr the gold standard. taupht