Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-04-19
STATE DEMOCRACY.
ITS DECADENCE ANDTHE PLAIN
CAUSE OFT.

Ignoring Principle to Uphold the Dispenser of
"Pis' s'-PIacins Man at the Head of the
Ticket Who Had by His Official Acts Shown
Himself to be Defender Of the Imperiastic
Policy Of the National Administration and
Supporter Of Trusts-fiOw it Was Done
and the Dire Consequences.
Sumner Herald.
1t appears that the candidate W hom
the Democrats OF St. Louis have elect
ed for Mayor is man who believes in
Republican policies. 1t was for this
reason Mr.. Bryan opposed him, using
identically the same arguments which
the Herald set forth in its opposition
last fall to the denomination of Gov
ernor Rogers. 1t will be remembered
that Rogers was a vehement defender
of the administrations imperialistic
policy; that in his letter to Governor
Sayers, of Texas, he took the ground
that trusts were good thing, and
that on every public occasion, for a
period of two years previous to Mr..
Bryan's visit to this State, he made it
point to pander to the Republican
party on these lines. The Herald
contended that he was not the proper
man to lead the Democracy-either to
victory or defeat. The candidacy of
Mr.. Wells was a parallel case, and Mr..
Bryan, in discussing the propriety Of
electing such a man, said: "The
man who sees no danger in imperial
ism, large standing army, wars of
conquest, private monopolies and the
other policies for which the Republic
can party now stands" is not likely to
serve the people wisely or the Demo
cratic party satisfactorily.
Now, Of course, the Herald realizes
that the election is over, that Rogers
by the combined influence of the
whiskey and corporate interests of
this State was reelected; that he will
be Governor for the next four years !;
and that in view of these facts there
is little to be gained by bringing up
the past. Still, as there is nothing to
be lost by it, we will take this oppor-
tunity to remind what is "called" the
Democracy of this State that it com.
mitted great and irreparable blum
der in doing what it did. The fact is
that Rogers is not Democrat, has no
sympathy for the fundamental princi-
pies Of the party, is a time-serving op-
portunist, only-a political Uriah
Heep. He does not advocate single
Democratic doctrine-for the doc
trine'a sake nor has he among all
his lieutenants and associates single
thoroughbred of the Jeffersonian
echool. They are mongrels and op-
portunists, like himself, almost with
out exception. Senator Turner may
be an exception, since he has Loyalty
and consistently proclaimed the faith
at his post in the Senate; but his ac-
ton in forcing Rogers ON the Democ-
racy of the State has brought his mo-
tives into suspicion, and also his pru-
dence as political leader; for which
he may yet bitterly repent-notwith-
standing his fiippant remark that he
"cares not a straw whether he is re-.
turned to the Senate or not" As a
man is judged by the company he
keeps, Senator Turner must himself
admit that his present associates do
not commend him to the confidence
and enthusiastic support of simon
pure Democrats. He was responsible,
more than any other man, for Rogers
denomination; and he will be held to
that account. Had a man like Voor-
hees been nominated considering all
the circumstances we believe he
would have been. elected by much
greater majority than was Rogers.
But Senator Turner opposed his nom
ination because he was from Spokane
the home also of Turner-reasoning
that it might initiate against his own
chances OF reelection should Cover.
nor and Senator both be asked for by
that city. So he sacrificed the perma-
nent interests OF the Democratic party
for Rogersism and his own political
ambitions. Had Voorhees, or any
other genuine Democrat been nomi-
nated-and whether elected or not
consider how different would be the
condition and prospects of that party
to-day! Had We been defeated, we
would now be rallying our forces had
we been successful, our forces would
be already under command and guild
ance. There would be inspiration in
the outlook, hope for the future bat
tie, confidence in the cause and cour-
age in the heart. As it is now, we are
in party sense, what Mirabeau once
described the French nation to be-
Gan unorganized aggregation of dis
united people" We are without a
leader, without an oriflame; there is
no positive or inspiring force any.
where-all is chaos.
The Herald saw all this coming
months ago; and, within the sphere OF
its humble influence, did all in its
power to avert it. But the time-serv.
ers were too many. The fusion forni.
cation had debauched the party, per-
verted its intelligence and corrupted
its conscience. The taste of State