Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-05-12
IS THERE A LACK OF STATESMANsHIP?
To the Editor of the STANDARD:


To the Editor of the STANDARD:
Craftsmanship implies eminent po-
litical ability and knowledge of gov
ernment, with mind large and broad
enough to at all times consider and
advocate the greatest good to the
greatest number.
Politics that ought to stand for the
true science of government stands to-
day, among petty politicians as
means to an end, and that end is Of
flee.
We have few statesmen, very few;
we have office seekers innumerable.
The question is not What shall do
for my country and fellow men," but
"What can do to aid partisan poll
tics that may hold office"
Fellow citizens. read the papers and
contemplate the scramble for office:
Behold the army of mendicants for
public pap! They are all statesmen;
they tell us so, and they itch to gov
ern, therefore they say, Let there be
Fusion that we may eat and grow fat,
that We may drink and be merry"
Fusion is like the mule, it is with
out pride of ancestry or hope Of pos
terity. Hybrids as rule are not fer
tile; neither is Fusion, except in its
applicants for Office; give Fusion Office
or it will die.
Before the assembling of the Chi
cago Convention, in July, 1896, the
Democratic party was without leader
ship or object in life. 1t was disunited
without political character or princi-
pie. Cleveland disowned it, Hill and
Whitney saw its trend to Populism;
they would have it make peace with
the Angler Of Buzzard's Bay" but
the Peoples Party beckoned the Dem
ocrats to the raft built at Omaha, on
the swift flowing Missouri. They saw
it was goodly craft, we'll built and of
strong and enduring timber. The
Democrats to save themselves, sought
to wreck the Populist's craft, by tear
ing planks from the structure with
which they built shelter to protect
themselves from the storm they saw
gathering.
The history of the Democratic
party, in part, will have to be re-writ-
ten; un-American leaders protesting
Democracy have deceived the people.
The Peoples Party had taken its
place in the hearts and ranks of
Americans. The seers of Democracy
saw this.
If any other platform than that
adopted ut Chicago had been adopted,
Bryan and those holding his political
views would have been Jealous recruits
in the ranks of the Peoples Party;
but the Democrats at Chicago, in
July, 1896, appropriated to their own
use the timber and principles of the
Omaha platform. In doing this they
only returned to their first love, the
people, and again assumed the active
duty they owed to the Republic.
The Fusion at Chicago in 1866 dis
rupted the Peoples Party. 1t was a
meretricious affair and helped to de.
feat the National candidates of those
who entered into it.
Had the Peoples Party leaders made
and adhered to their own platform
and ticket, they would have increased
their vote and in 1900 would have
been in a condition to elect their
President. The Democrats would
have come to them. To-day the Peo-
pies Party has no cohesion, no force,
its best days are passed, it has ceased
to make history, but it forced its prin-
ciples upon the Democratic party.
Bryan is to day the true representa-
tive of the "New Democracy" the
Democracy that will redeem and re-
form the Republic.
Democracy stands as the choice of
over 100000 freemen; Populism for
a little over 100000; which banner
should lead over 100000 of freemen
to victory?
Fusion will defeat the aspiration of
a majority of the American people.
The voters are beginning to look upon
it rs o deal between the office-seekers
and will defeat it. reiterate, "The
voters will defeat Fusion"
Democrats that would vote the
Democratic ticket, as between Fusion
and Republican, will vote Republican.
The Populists as a party will not sup
port it and many of the Silver Repub-
llcans Will by Fusion be landed In the
Republican camp.
Divided as three parties, they can
not succeed, and as one party under
the head OF Fusion they will be not
only defeated, but demoralized
What then?
The New Democracy" should be
the watchword of all reform forces.
In the coming November elections
the Republicans will secure the Offices,
Fusion will defeat itself. The "New
Democracy" should not abandon its
banner nor its principles for office and
Fusion. Let Democracy stand by its
colors. Let its platform declare for
national bimetalism, direct legislation,
national control of railroads, tele-
graphs, and the establishing of postal