Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-06-02
Is It Wisdom or Folly ?


III certain Eastern newspaper circles.
We say certain newspaper circles,
since it is we'll known that the idea Of
raising fund for the Admiral found
its inception among q clique OF news
paper men Of peculiar political com
plexiun.
Now strict diagnosis OF the matter
reveals the fact that the Eastern pa.
perS most enthusiastic in this move
ment have some big axes to grind and
to that end they are indulging in
great expectations. Certain it is, that
something more tangible than unself-
ish patriotism lies at the bottom of
this affair. 1t in some way ever turns
out that any kind OF human love or
homage ceases to be a virtue when es-
timatcd by its quoted price in cash.
The amount proposed to be raised
for Admiral Dewey is $250,O00, a cool
quarter OF million, but even this
princely tribute to deserved worth
would fly up and kick the beam when
laid in the scales as a counter-weight
against the patriotic love of the
mother who yields up the life of her
soldier boy slain on the battlefield
while fighting under the flag of his
country.
Washington served eight years in
the war of the Revolution without re-
ceiving cent from Congress; the
only stipulation being that govern
ment should reimburse him for his
private expenses during the war. 1t
is barely over twelve months since
Dewey achieved the victory at Manila
that has made him the cynosure of all
eyes to-day, and during that time his
position and modes of living have
been those of prince when placed
beside the hard fare and adversities
endured by the Father of his country.
Dewey is relieved from active duty for
short time, but his salary OF $14 900
a year goes right on, and when retired
lie will be we'll cared for till the end
OF his natural life.
That the STANDARD is not alone in
its structures against a movement OF
unwarranted extravaganza under the
guise of patriotic charity, will be freely
shown by the following extracts repre-
senting the views of broad-minded
thinkers in the far East as we'll as in
our own State. And yet these are
only specimens of protestations OF SIM
liar tone coming in from all over the
country East, West, North and South,
crying out against the most ridiculous
fad of the closing century. Here i.
what the Spokesman-Reriew says of
the proposition:
A subscriber asks the Spokesmax- Re-
ciep to "open subscription list for the
Dewey home fund" The Spokesman Re-
cleo has no objection to receiving and
forwarding voluntary contributions to
that fund, but it is not disposed to urge
the public to make such donations. In.
deed, it questions the propriety of the
movement, and it doubts that the &C.
tons Of the Admirals ELUSIVE friends in
this respect will be agreeable to him.
His salary as Admiral is ample for the
proper maintenance of his rank, and in
addition to that he will receive small
fortune in the way of prize money for
the destruction and capture of the Span
ish squadron. If Admiral Dewey was
broken in fortune and his declining days
were harassed by financial troubles it
would be proper and generous to start
popular movement for his relief; but
under the circumstances it is questioned
whether he will thank his admirers for
putting him forward as an object of pub
lie assistance.
And here is what the N. Y. Evening
Post has to say on the same subject:
The modest, self-contained man who
destroyed the Spanish fleet at Manila
last year is now on his way home. The
newspapers which are using his back as
an advertising board for themselves, the
politicians who are seeking Office on his
merits, and the vendors of goods and
wares who are using his name on their
sign-boards are getting themselves in
readiness for all kinds of Mysteries on
his arrival. One man, who manufac-
lures tandem kites, proposes to send up
the highest kite that ever was flown,
with flag mounted upon it, 80 that the
first thing Dewey sees when he ap-
proaches the shore of his native land
shall be the Stars and Stripes. One
newspaper thinks that Governor Roose-
welt ought to include an appropriation
Tor Dewey's reception in mis- message to
the legislature.
The rival newspapers which are toll.
ing and moiling to get subscriptions for
a house for Dewey in Washington report
the large sum of 5000 already raised by
their joint and several efforts. Mean
while, nobody knows whether Dewey
wants a house, or whether he prefers
Washington as place of residence, or
whether he would accept anything az q
gilt in any event. In such state of du-
biety, we suggest that the house-buyers,
if they must make present to Dewey,
make it to him in money. In that case
he can dispose of it "a he chooses. If
he wants house he can buy or build
with the proceeds, or he can invest it, or
give il away, as suits him best. All the
accounts which reach US through his
most intimate friends signify that he is
averse to the personal display and lion
izing of which he is the subject, but
that fact will not deter the kite-hyers
and self.advertising classes from playing
the pranks they have laid out for them.
selves. They can make themselves rid.
iculous, but they cannot make Dewey 80.
WHILE the Democracy is yelling
:. trusts" in scared tone Of voice, they
should not forget to remember that the
first great trust, the sugar trust, was or.
gaEized under Democratic administra.
tion.-Olympian.
No greater foe to true Democracy
was ever elevated to power than Grover
Cleveland. He was the original gold.