Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-11-07
Lessons Of the Ballot.

Lessons Of the Ballot.
That our Republican friends have
scored an overwhelming victory, ma
tional, State and local, is owing to
causes rs immutable as the law OF
gravitation, and flow of the tide, and
against which either party has found
at times it was OF no avail to impose
human endeayOr, no matter how hon
estly directed.
The very conscientious devotion t.
principle shown by steadfast support
OF a party subject to repeated and con-
tinuous defeat, is an index OF deviation
from party forms when the opposition
shows an apparent absolutely honest
intent to adopt measures which give
reasonable promise Of reform and hope
OF relief in other fields Of endeavor. 1t
is no surprise, therefore, that we find
many Democrats applauding the Pres
ident in his unexpected policy for
curling the rapacious trusts and for
affording reciprocity to Cuba, for these
are in line with Democratic ideas con-
tended for ever since their necessity
became apparent. 1t is by no means
strange that Democrats should ap-
prove OF Gov. McBride's endeavor to
secure fair play from corporations, es-
pecially of the railroads, which pay but
1.-THE OF the taxes Of the individual
citizen, The best recognition OF bene-
fits to accrue from securing the CO.
operation OF n powerful, entrenched
alley, is by support of the measures he
suggests, if they afford a reasonable
hope OF success. While We may
cherish party names for sentimental
reasons, it is as foolish TO set them up
for idols as to worship images OF wood
or stone, when the essence OF what we
conceive to be the best government
may be plainly subserved by other
means. There is as much reason in
placing ideas above forms as support
of principal above the selfshness of
mankind, when self-constituted leaders
or aspiring candidates seek to made t
stepping-stone 10 power. While we
in NO degree under-rate the value of
the regular party organization for pro-
noting time-honored objects, it must
be admitted that it would be far better
to vary the means employed than to
sacrifice the end to be attained.
Very few, we think, will 60 as far as
Mr.. Thomos Cavanaugh did, in his
speech Saturday night, when he
affirmed the existence OF an Office.
holding class, who by some sort of di.
vine right, we're entitled so the offices
that they are endowed by nature with
certain characteristics which pre-emi.
nently entitle them to rule, and that
there is another class who are, in the
economy OF nature, just as plainly en-
dowed with the qualifications to delve
and dig-hewers of wood and drawers
of water-whose mission it is to earn
the money for payment of salaries.
These may not have been his exact
words, but they embody the idea that
was fitting through his mind probably
clearer than he desired to disclose it.
1t is the same exalted view of social
prerogative that impelled Admiral
Sampson to withhold endorsement OF
Of Gunner Morgan for a commission
in the U. s. navy. While competence
and honesty are prime requisites for
office-holding, they are by no means
indicated by an aristocratic tilt of the
nose or id.tipped fingers, and the idea
il remnent OF the leaven which ami
mated the Federal party, . hundred
years ago, directed the Wing party hall
q century ago, and now crops out in
the Republican party when most OF it,
fuglemen have learned the art of dis.
sembling much better than our local
Dogberry.
II there is any one thing that the
Democratic party has persistently
fought since the advent Of the Repub'
lican party to power, it has been it.
subscrvency to party bosses, and the
ease with which it could be swerved
from matters of principle by machine
methods. This was shown in the con.
test for Delegate to Congress in 1870
when the Republican party OF Wash
ington Territory, under machine meth
DDS, nominated and elected Seluciu,
Garfelde. reputed to have been . sym
pathizer with the rebellion, when hi
opponent, Marshall F. Moore, had beer
Union soldier and carried rebel leaG
in his body since the war. Then agar
the flop from silver 10 gold, of NOR,
recent memory, shows how easy it il
to make men turn political somersaultl
when the party shouts, "Simon say
wiggle-waggle."
1t was probably to avoid stultifica
ton Of the position that Democrats
held with regard to many just suct
ignoble acts OF the Republicans as /.
party, as we'll as devotion to the prin
ciple proclaimed for its own guidance
that led Democrats in the late con
test to repudiate the plan for foistinl
upon the party a disgruntled Repub
lican, who had bolted his own tickle
after the party, had elected him t
the Office he now holds and refused
him a denomination. It was from