The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-22

Not So Eager FOR It.
The question Of fusion Is again asita-
ting the various odds and ends which
two years ago were brought together
through the agility OF place hunters and
professional manlpulators. But the
prospect 10 not encouraging. It 10 evil
dent that a good many OF those who
Joined the coalition in 1893 are not now
30 strongly In favor OF an obiiteratson
OF party and a surrender Of principles
for a chance 1T spoils There seems to
be less Of an inclination to get together
on patchwork platform merely for an
opportunity to pull down q few oficial
plums. There might have been . time
when union Of forces for an attack
on what was thought to be q common
enemy looked attractive, but the more
serious soldiers in the tri.party or.
ganization long ago came to a realizing
sense Of the fact that fusion means
nothing more nor less than a cold
blooded negotiation to parcel out nomi-
nations for ONCE. and then attempt
to secure the election of the nominees
on platform to which no party to the
coalition can conscientiously subscribe.
This sort Of thing was all very well for
the aspirants for place. and 1t was not
distasteful TO those who make politics
a business for what there Is In II and
are not attached to an organization be-
cause they believe It's teachings are eter-
nally right. But to men whose impulses
are to show honest fidelity to principles
this fusion masquerading long ago be-
came offensive, and for some time there
has been evidence of resolute deter
mination to oppose any continuance OF
It.
The straight -out Democrat from good
blood is hostile to the idea of another
three-ring circus He Is tired Of being
herded with all the latter-day vision
aries who have come to the front, and
he longs for the time when 1t will be
possible to talk and vote for Democracy
that is simon pure. He rebels against
travelling longer under a banner labeled
Peoples party" and he IL asking him
self II It is not time to get back to fight
ing for Jacksonian principles and stop
advocating all sorts of insane notions
which the exigencies OF fusion require
shall go into the combination platform.
He is weary of chasing phantoms, and
sishs for the substance Of better days
when Democracy meant something.
The middle-of-t he-road Populist also
is no longer so greatly enamored of the
fusion idea as he once was. He seems
to be anxious to rid himself of entan-
Cling alliances which are not honestly
for the reforms he believes in. He Is
tired of watching fusion degenerate
into mere conspiracy to get something
and not do something. He has had
division of the spoils and then being
compelled to SEQ all OF his pet issues
thrown overheard. In fact, posing in
the role of cat's-paw for the benefit
of designing politicians in his
own and other parties has become
about as obnoxious to him as it is re-
pulsive to the old-line Democrat.
There will be an attempt to renew the
alliance of the past two state cam
paigns, but sober reflection for two
years has not made it easy of accom-
pllshment. There are those who will
be willing to agree to any species of
condition even as notorious as the bar
tering OF a supreme court Judge for the
Endorsement of a single tax plank; but
the mania for small measure of pow
er or neager portion of the places has
about disappeared in circles where
there is real Intelligence and honesty
Of purpose, The sacrifices by men Of
the better mold have been too great
and the results too notifying to per-
NIT OF their lending encouragement to