Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-09-18
Good Riddeuce.

The Goldbug Boilers from the
Democratic party announce that they
intend to hold n State Convention
at Tacoma, on the Goth inst, to con-
slider the advisability OF putting in the
field State ticket, and one of their
number says in reply to inquiries by
a paper OF that city that he is opposed
to that course, for fully 80 per cent.
OF the boilers will cast their votes for
Mckinley. and if a State ticket is
placed in the field many of these votes
may be lost for the grand object OF de-
feating the regular Democratic ticket.
1t is a matter of congratualation
that we occasionally meet with gold
bug bolter from the party who is thus
explicit in defining the true objects OF
the handful of politicians who have
followed their political Moses, the
Stuffed Prophet, into the wilderness.
1t is we'll that the total abandonment
OF the principles and traditions of the
old party should be thus distinctly
avowed, so that every surviving spirit
OF sympathy or respect for former
political associates may give place to
the obliquy which attaches to the
traitor and the unceasing feeling of
enmity that must exist between par
ties that are as wide as the poles
asunder upon questions OF public
policy.
1t does seem strange, however, that
the cold blood may pulsate any hui
man heart to degree that one who
has thrice been honored by his party's
nomination to the highest office in
the nation, and who has twice been
carried to the Presidential chair upon
the backs of his devoted followers, that
he now should plunge a dagger in
their back, while his former adverse
ries are assailing them in front. The
treason of an Arnold sinks into in
significance when paralleled with this
atrocious recreancy to all the finer
feelings of the soul OF man. 1t may be
urged that Cleveland is a man of hon.
est conviction, but it has ever been
held by the advocates of true Democ.
racy that the opinion OF the majority
are so likely 10 be correct that it is
the duty Of all true partisans to &C.
quiescence in it when expressed
through the regular forms of party or
ganization specially framed to crystal
lyze its sentiment on questions of ex-
pediency and policy. That any man
should set himself up to dictate a
policy in opposition to the will of the
majority was never dreamed of by the
founders of the party, and probably
any other such man as Cleveland
would not have been evolved in a
thousand years of free government; a
man so bold, so stolid, so Indifferent to
any opinion which may conflict with
his own ideas, 80 selfish in judgment
on qualifications for official prefer
ment OF all other people than the
ego he worships. His followers who
have sustained him in his alteration of
the golden calf set up by the idolaters
in Wall street have simply been
blinded by his audacioua example,
and hypnotized by steady gaze upon
the object he has so steadily held up to
view. They are scarcely less repre-
hensible, for they announce them
selves as ready to join the common
enemy, and sanction all its political
heresies, to down their party associates
who still hold that the majority should
rule in all party declarations of pol.
icy.
There is one cause for congratula-
ton in this loss. It takes with it all
that Hamiltonian leaven which ia
vored a limited monarchy when our
government was formed, all that aris-
tocratic element which believed, in
lieu of a titled nobility, it desirable
to build up wealthy aristocracy that
should dominate the plain people who
constitute the life-blood of Republic.
Happily we are free from those who
would kiss the big toe of the Emperor
of China, if by 90 doing it would lead
to a social prestige that would place
them above their fellows.