The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-02

threatened refusal Of Spain to surren-
der the Philippines, that the president
should have good working majority
in congress In sympathy with his pol
icy. Nothing could be more absurd
on the part OF the people or more un-
just to the president than. having
elected him and holding him RESPONSE
bic to a Republican platform, to baik
him at every step by placing In power
a Democratic or Popuiist congress.
The people had an example during
the debates upon the conduct of the
war Of the extreme to which oartisans
will go in embarrassing president not
Of their own political faith. The whole
success Of the campaign was some
times jeopardlzed by apparent want of pa
friotism and by the party seliishness
OF members Of congress The Repub-
lican party is quite willing to take the
responsibility for the acts of a presi-
dent elected upon a Republican plat
form. provided that he Is supported by
Republican congress. II the people
are not satisfied with Republican ad-
ministration. they have the opportu-
nifty at the close Of this term OF giving
the country another dose of Demo-
cratic rule. but they should do that de-
liberately. and not through indiffer-
ence. II house Of representatives In
imical to the president is elected in
OF Republicans who will not take the
trouble to fortify the president by put
ting themselves to the inconvenience
OF coming out to vote. When men are
prosperous there Ia q grave tendency
TO let elections 60 by default on the as
sumption that everything viii turn out
well. This overconfidence has on more
than one occasion thrown this country
into a turmoil
about a century ago make il very
tempting to refer to the history OF that
period for lessons as to the present
In a letter to Benjamin Harrison, writ
ten in 1879. George Washington wrote
1T appears to me az clear as ever the
sun did In It's meridian brightness that
America never stood in more eminent
need Of the wise. patriotic and spirited
exertions Of her sons than at this Pc
riod: the states separately are
too much engaged IN their local con-
Germs. and have too many Of their
ablest men withdrawn from the gen.
eral council. for the good Of the COM
mon veal
George Washington sometimes used
language which modern conventional
lily would not regard as altogether jus
tifable. but II is rather pleasant To be
able to refer to him for phrases which.
although not permissible now, do not
seem altogether inapt. In his wrath at
what he calls the "murderers of our
cause" he said II is much to be la
mensed that each state had not hunt
ed them down. He added:
II would to God that some one of
the NEST atrocious in each state was
hung In gihbets upon gallows five
times as high AZ the one prepared by
Haman. No punishment I'm my opin-
ion is too great for the man who can
build his bridges upon his counsry's
ruin"
Washington was angry at the want
OF sympathy OF congress: that body
harassed him by It's paltry party hiek-
ering. He pleaded with congress not
10 thwar; him. and al one time he
even le.t the field OF battle and went
to Philadelphia 70 struggle personally
with congress. He rehuked tha. body
in mos, indignant words. He said at
one time:
'At a time when public harmony Is
So essential. when we should ala and
assist each other with cur abilities.
when our hearts should ee open 10 in
formation and our hands ready 10 ass-
minister ft4tts. 10 HUG uiSEDSt ana
jeRlousies taking possession az the
mind. and a party spirit prevailing at
soras most melancholy reflection, and
forehSdes no good =
This appeal had a most excellent 20
suis. The people were stirred 20 a
sense of responsibility. and AZ the same
time saw the justness NJ holding up
she presidents hands by giving hisn
a congress which would stand by him.
Tho result Is we'll known. TAere hssnr
no divided eag,nSsis. the president
could make plans and be- Sere az sap
port in carrying them cut: ne was rot
harassesi by at opposition seeking 10
tsssng Giscreiis upon him ard bis cot
leagues In eraer ~ secure ofsis,e for
the opposing party
Although the country IL satisfied that
;he president is wisely carrying OF: lss