Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-18
What it IS to Be PARTY Organ -


or advance better ideas.-Tdrpdyer.
Oh. no, that can hardly be so, unless
to be a"party organ" is to sacrifice
freedom of thought and dignity of
character. II that is the true defini-
ton OF "organ" the STANDARD has
long eince out-grown an environment
that is only excused or tolerated as a
means OF making every political re-
suit attainable sought through the
rules and usages o! party government
and the most rigid discipline. Plat
forms are based, nationally, upon prin-
ciples generally recognized by leading
statesmen as calculated to advance
certain salient ideas, which seems to
tit the personality or capacity OF
the individual citizen, and give prom
Use of promoting his welfare. Their
wisdom is based upon the amount of
benefit they may impart to the public
life. the best results that may flow to
citizenship, and the highest objects
that may be subseryed as a people,
Individually and collectively. Like
other things in life, their value is
largely attested by results, and on
these parties are judged.
Neither partisan need be the less
of patriot for adhereing to his party's
views. nor has either party claim to
an infallible panacea for all human
ills until it passes the trying ordeal Of
experience. Ii it shows to the satisfac-
ton of an exacting public that it is
entitled to confidence and respect for
serving the purposes OF fairness and
honesty, it is the part of manhood to
admit whatever is proven of such
measures or men, even though they
belong to an opposing party. The
journalist who has not mind large
enough to do this, is out of his sphere
in any kind of stewardship involving
the use of cold type, in which motives
and morals may be so clearly ex-
pressed that there is no need to read
between lines when an honest opinion
is given.
Then, again, the same oracle pro-
claims with imperturbable gravity:
"If the better men are in opposing
parties, an honest party mouthpiece
would renounce its own side and cross
the line into the other camp"
1t evidently follows that the above
writer bundles up principles and men
as he would carrots and parsnips, and
after placing them in array, decides
which string is the longest or which
will bring the larger price in the pub
lie market. But that selection would
scarcely justify him in choosing his
products from his neighbours rows.
The large aggregates OF men be.
longing to the two larger parties OF
the nation, must Of necessity embrace
good men and bad men; men of prin.
ciples, guided by reputable motives
and men of selfishness, influenced
simply by desire Of place whereby
the struggle of life may be met with
the least exertion. The admixture of
good and bad, when such large mum.
bers are taken, must prevail largely
in either. with the possibility that the
odor of the 1eshpOts may attract quite
preponderauce to the side possessing
them. 1t very generally sways that
utterly venal and undeniabIy sordid
element Of humanity which constitute
sometimes the balance of power.
A change of ones political overcoat
is by no means the simple expedient
suggested by the Taxpayer. Very
little influence is carried by the man
who thus stiltifies the most solemn
convictions that are generally regard
ed as equaling in reverence the faith
that serves as light beyond the grave
An acknowledgment OF the little oI
good we see in poor humanity at best
should not be denied because We hap.
pen to look on opposite sides OF the
same sign.board. Whatever degree oil
pleasure and profit may be derived
from q comradeship which removes
some OF the jolts received on life.
rugged journey, should not be refused
to these who may think quite differ
emily on the proper way to run Q
primary or manage a convention.
i In other words, we fail to see the
necessity Of becoming =" mouthpiece.'
at all, unless it's object be to become 9
professional partisan and indulge in
; selfish pipe.dreams.
THE Democrats on the House and
Senate Committee on Territories favo,