Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-10-21
The Blight Of Populism."

If some one of our Republican
ncighbors would only show any evil
dcncc OF their oft-repeatcd assertion
that the course and blight of popu-
lism" had driven capital out, or pre-
vented it from coming into, our State,
We would be pleased to chronicle the
fact as some evidence of their DISPOSE
ton to be fair and honest in discussion
OF public matters.
1t seems that bare statement OF
the proposition discovers much to
prove the other side and it might
serve their purpose better to steer
clear of course which is strewn with
such rocky environments. Unfortu-
nately for them, we have State lying
contiguous to our own, cursed with
the gold blight, for comparison and
illustration Of the effects, under the
two codes of principles. Time was, a
few years ago, when Oregon was far
ahead in the race for commercial SUI
supremacy. What is her position
now? Washington has steadily out
stripped her rival in all that goes to
build up a prosperous commonwealth.
More money has been expended by
railroads in betterment of terminals
and extensions, by investors in estab-
lishment of manufactures and the de-
velopment of resources, by our citizens
generally in the erection OF permanent
Improvements, and 10y our farmers in
the tillage of crops, in this State, the
past two years, than has been spent in
Oregon any decade in her history since
the effects of the one-legged currency
policy has become apparent upon the
business of the country.
The only reason why capital has, in
some instances, beat shy of investment
here, in given localities, is because of
the prohigate policy the Republican
party had resulted in bonded debts
which harrass and annoy the property
owner and threaten ultimate confisca-
ton of his property. There is no cause
for surprise that the capitalist when he
discovers this fact should seek other
fields, where legitimate profits may not
be wholly eliminated by the curse of
excessive taxation. The public debts
accumulated by the State, counties
and cities, under the high-pressure
methods which controlled the party
so long in power, when everything was
made to yield the most revenue posi-
bic to pay fat salaries and promote
sleek jobs for the benefit OF its promot-
ors, were first mortgage upon every
dollar placed in property that kept it
in sight for the vigilant eye of the AS
SCISSOR, who was diligently taught that
his duty lay in providing a revenue to
pay extravagant demands instead OF
fixing an estimate upon the cash value
of property subject to taxation. The
result was just what was predicted it
would he by those who saw and felt
the gradual tightening of the bonds |
which paralyzed industry, and their ap-
peals for relief exposed the tendency
SO plainly that capital, ever timid, was
driven away.
Far-seeing men already in the field,
saw, however, in the triumph of the
reform party, followed up by the econ
omic policy at once instituted, a re-
vival from the strained conditions, a
release from the burden OF excessive
taxation, and a gradual restoration OF
confidence; and it is this direct result
of fusion victory that has resulted in
progress, while our neighbors across
the river are still staggering under their
load without hope of relief.