Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-04-19

| spOlls had but Increased the hunger oil
the camp-followers, and the tcmpta-
tion to grasp for the federal tlesh-pots
held out by Senator Turner in the
event Of Bryan's election-was greater
than they could withstand. 1t is
hard to reason with men who have no
higher aim in politics than self-ag-
grandizement. They take no thought
of the future, and what little judg-
ment they may have is smothered by
their greed. This class of fellows
never lack for gall and gab. They
jump from one party to the other with
the greatest celerity, and mount the
house-tops to proclaim their new
found faith. They can usurp the
leadership OF the party with the sub
limest audacity, and teach its Oldest
and wisest members Democracy by
the yard - though they themselves
would not recognize any one OF the
sixteen principles enunciated by
Thomas Jefferson were they to behold
it written in characters of living fire
across the heavens. They are the
most vicious and vindictive against
the cbieftains of their old party and
the readiest TO stone the prophets of
! their new. They are the hardest to
counsel with, the most pestiferous to
bear with, the most difficult to salts
fy. and the greediest for plunder.
They are the most self-righteous, as
we'll as the most selfish; the most pre-
sumptious as well as the most preco-
cious; they are the most sensitive to
correction, as we'll as the most insen-
! sible to circumspection. They think
they can define Democracy better
| than the Herald; but it can define
them better than they can thems elves.
Some OF them will see their portrait
reflected here as in a mirror; it will
surprise them little for moment; !;
they will then make grimace or two,
take fall out of the third command
ment and go each one his way,
straightway forgetting what manner
of Democrat" he is. Were it not for
our absolute consciousness of this fact,
we should not have written on this
subject at all. If there were any hope
whatever of getting the Democratic
party of this State into harmony or
under organization, we would make
the best of this very disagreeable situ-
alton, realizing that in politics many
provoking things must be endured
and overlooked. But the truth is that
there is no near hope of Democratic
success; and those who were instru-
mental in saddling Rogers ON the
party again are responsible for it..
If this fact has not yet penetrated
their understanding, it is only mat
ter-of time when it must.
The Herald is looking the situation
fairly in the face, trying neither to
deceive itself nor its party. 1t trusts
that its predictions may not be full
filled; but it knows that nothing can
prevent them coming to pass save q
thorough reorganization of the party
in this State. We have no Democracy
here now. Who says we have? Let
! him show us sample. Is it Rogers?
Is it Hart? Is it Ballaine? Is it
Blethen? Is it Hazard? Save the
mark! Well, then, who is it, or what
is it, or where is it? And what, more.
over, is the sense or utility of a Demo-
cratic paper pretending to say that a
party, headed by such brand of cat
tie, DESERVES to succeed? Every
thoroughbred knows better. Every
adherent to the true faith knows that
the Democracy can never afford to
choose to its leadership men who are
imbued with doctrines alien to its
own. 1t is contrary to principle, pro.
priety and prudence, and always re-
suits in regret and ruin. 1t has done
80 in this State. Rogers was renomi.
mated by his own subalterns and such
other mercenaries as were brought to
his support by the promise of federal
patronage. Their chief claim in his
behalf was that he would draw more
Republican strength than any other
candidate. So he was nominated to
suit the adversary-and did duly re-
ceive that strength; at the same time
losing thousands OF his own party
vote. Indeed, he pleased the enemy
so wonderfully we'll that they forced
him on US in spite OF ourselves. And,
truth to tell, we cannot see wherein
they made any mistake, politically, in
so doing-as viewed by the record up
to date. What an anomaly; yea, what
a paradox!-a professional reformer,
crstwhile defamer of every Democratic
principle, present advocate OF every
cardinal Republican policy, nominated
by the party of Jefferson and Jackson,
yet standing cheek by jowl with the
Republicans throughout the recent
session OF the Legislature-the rotten
est, the most servile to corporate DOM
ination, in the history of the common.
wealth! Well may the Democracy
exclaim: "Where are we at?" But
to solve the perplexity were not SO
easy; howbeit. the path and sign.
boards of our journey hither are mani
fest as day. No discerning, honest
Democrat has cause to be surprised
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