The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-18
SANCHO PANZA IN THE
CHAIR.

! .ffe that hath been eight years upon a
project for extrac ding slinoeams out OF
cUeumcerS which were 20 tie put III phlals
Theoretically sealed, ard let out 10 warm
the cir in raw. .nele-nent weather. '--tiul-
iisers Travels.
Heretofore Ia the history of the world
men VINO nave made their way frcns =
humble position 10 one of power and au-
thority have been men Of brains and force
% character.
fool may be king. but II he is he
has inherited his crown. No instance can
be found III which he got IL in any other
way. Ia republican governments the rule
has been the same until recent years. or,
perhaps should say. the general rule has
been and is now the same. but in recent
years there have been some notable ex-
ceptions. But for these exceptions 1t
would be difficult to prove that a lot OF
free men would ever select fool to rule
over them. The proposition would be con-
sidered too absurd for credence. II is
absurd, all the same. but We know that
IL has been done.
What were the people OF Oregon think
ing OF when they elected Pennoyer their
governor? What was the matter with the
voters in Colorado when they put Waite
at the head of their state government?
Then there was Lieweliyn in Kansas. and
other instances? No matter; these are
enough and more than enough to Illus
trate the strange alteration / am con-
sidering.
| think we may note this distinction be-
tween the mental attitude of a man who
pays ais money 10 see a circus clown make
a fool of himself. and a man who helps
to hoist fool 10 the head of the govern
he So 10 knows no
II doing. he consciously elects to see the
clown smirk and roll his eyes and put him
self in ridiculous attitudes. He recognizes
the fact that the fellow Is making an ass
of himself. and for some reason. not yet
sufficiently plain, he enjoys the sight. But
when he votes 10 make fool the gov
ernor OF his state he does not know what
he is doing, and IL would be cutting very
close TO the truth to SAY that In so do
ing. he makes a fool of himself Indeed,
theirs is no question but what this must
be said, and the truth and justice of the
saying viii be manifest when we see that
after men have acted in this way many
OF them will frankly acknowledge that
they were fools.
Now, there is no Office within the gift
of the people, in which good hard com
mon sense is so desirable and valuable as
In the office OF governor. II does not re-
quire brilliant man. or a man OF great
learning TO make a good governor. He
need not be an orator nor trained law
ser. nor a skillful diplomat. II is not nee
essary that he should have written books
on theology or or any branch of science.
or on profound social or political ques-
lions. But to oe "a successful and usef al
chief magistrate of the state a man must
have character aud common sense. He
must not he petty man. He must not
let himself be actuatcd by little motives.
He must he truthful, frank and sincere
ard he must he brave and unselfish and
honest With such a character a man
commands the confidence and respect OF
his fellow citizens and stands in such re-
lation towards them shat the things his
Judgment dictates meet with approval and
support.
So much Cor character. Then, as ror
sense. man must he q Judge of other
men ne must know the faults and fraii-
ties Of human nature: he must know that
civilization is Il growth not a sanufac-
cured article; that society as We see I.
today is the work Of cvolGtioa through Ill
past ages If the human race. and snat no
man. even though he be- the governor Of
the state. Is strong enough 20 take hold of
our social institutions and manipulate
chem q potter shapes piece Of plastic
clay he must realize the fact that re-
formers are. for the mast part. great
fools ard mischief makers. ard hat The
only TINE and safe way IN witch things
aEe hettered I'm this word IS en- exceeding
y slow way; he must have fair under
standing or th@ laws Of the state OF their
origin their raulfying effects and the
danger Of Aastv changes: he must know
something OF the natural resources OF his
state. Of the Industries ~ It's ncanl,
which ere based OF and whleh grow out
81 chose resources and he must have
comr1on-sense ideas Of The natural laws
az trade end commerce He must know
what are The needs % the people which
government can and should supply or
cid them in supplying nc Fnust realize
that generally and eonsifer1n~ matters IN
the large the office of government Is 10
preserve order and enforce contracts. and
that 2 state ia not great because of tho
number ~ laws on tho statute books He
must bs able 10 appreciate the hard. prac-
'tcai common sense that underiieS she
/ normal action Of men associated together
and constituting society, and he must have
Hu abiding CONSEQUENCES thar Yafsa like
iehs must not - permitted 20 have their
Way. tnat their Way IS foolish ard hurt
! 20 way, and ina, the only valuable pur-
: pose such wen serve Is as a warning AMI
I caution TO sane men.
! Something HE The foregoing is what a
EoT rrnv ought 80 70 Not . erpat r.an
rfF "a. as the World so often estimates
Erratuess. Nut IS VIII - aeeg that no f,of
can lN the hiU. Indeed the sfyr,e VIII
. coGae sven ~ this state when TIRE Pro
UiA Viii uuGer~t snd ;hat our plain every
cav home affairs age TAR more important
than 'Ae thingS faSg uay oY can b@ done
~ the national capital ard that whan
we con2- 20 ch90S~ our governor We viii
{ hang uu = boara on N1ich shall BE- writ.
;es 5r large. plain letters ths words M
I tonl rasf apQly" They viii roree u, lsage
= ire - ttrSe days. shst governors ana
( legislators. though working together an
hta8tifsJs harmony. Gamer extract stgu-
Z beams frcal es1euxnhe They vvgH 20
aitze that faol IL rot -gl te wfse fyv elect
tns hirs TO ofs1ce. They viii agree 10
keep Hta in private ME- ard viii say
WITH Hamlet. Let tfie sepr ee shat u1.s,,
+ htgn that he may play th~ fool now here
tut "a als own house
j. - 1tSaeartvninE 70 $50 4 largo ma
T tog1ty az thn people - 4 state temporarily
Z euf ~ shelr wsts- FSus ne rausf hcp. fo-
better shinss in the suture and we mus.
+ have courage and patience
II the htstnry .; organic life az. eve
1U1en from What Spencer calls the homo
sens.aUe~ there - Ssch 4 thing "a rs,re-
( 50, ssisse or r~eurTeBcs 20 primitive types
as ws1 as progression. ha. ere latter ~
! TIRE r2sse ard 2lwakS prevails n are ga
= SETs have Sxxl Instances ssr exxrauss