The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-31

one who took refuge for a base abuse
Of authority committed to him behir
the pretense that what a man may do.
however dishonorable, he is compelled
to do.
Now there are few questions that
the people wish to ask Of Mr.. Bridges:
questions to which there is no refer
ence In his belated lucubrations. What
is due diligence? That was made con-
dition Of extending the contract, and Is
so stated in the law. Is it due diligence
to fill seventy acres in six years? Is 1t
due diligence to suspend work entirely
for the last three? Should a con-
tract on which not one stroke of work
has ever been done at any time be ex-
tended on the ground of due diligence?
This is vital to the integrity Of the COM
missioner's acts and motives.
Was 1t proper to extend contract
whose terms have become, through
change of circumstances, outrageous?
The compensation fixed was not, per-
haps. unreasonable six years ago. Today
the work can be done for half the price.
The interest rate was then to IL per
cent. Now 1t is from to Z. Was 1t
decent or honest to extend contract
whose terms had become thus CONNER,
cialiy extortionate; worth vast sums to
80 LA
What was the reason for the indecent
haste in performing an itrevocable act?
The petition was filed May 4. The at
torney general was away or probably
the extension would have been granted
on the same day. His opinion was rem
dered May z, and 1t was granted i'm
mediately. Within three days the whole
trick is turned, though the contract did
not expire for five months or more.
knowledge and protest? Why were
none OF the parties in interest notified?
The plea again IL that there was no
legal obligation. That seems to be the
only sort that Mr. Bridges recognizes;
but perhaps even thus he might be will
ing to state why he violated his pledged
word and broke the promises given by
him personally to those interested that
due notice would be made before any
action was taken.
1t Is a sorry spectacle that this man
presents. whose attempted defence is a
confession. Neither his country bump
tiousness nor his moral insensibility nor
his bravado Of technical legal power.
with its "what you are going to do
about It," covers for one instant the
moral delinquency that is avowed.
Every charge against him IL proved.
and the worst inference drawn from his
conduct appears TO be justified by his
words He has offended unpardonably
against official rectitude and public
right The Post-Intelligencer for its
part Acknowledges one error and one
regret. 1t intimated earlier that Mr.
Bridges had a reputation to lose. If he
loses that which belongs to him today.
we hope that no honest man may find it.
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1t has not yet been determined what
will be done with the Transvaal but
1t is not difficult for the Orange Free
Staters to see that they have not made
much out OF the South African war. It
was not their rght In the first place, and
they have been the greatest sufferers.
The campaign has been waged on their
territory, their farms have been de-
stroyed and their stock seized. They
have lost a good part of their property
and an independent government besides.
Dom Paurs manipulation OF the Free
| Staters for his own interest and 70 their
discontinue Is one OF the touching in
cidents Of the war.