Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-02-05
Wa5lalnaton Standard
UsITP; yi>EI.
FRIDAY MORNING, ffbElAtI ). 1901.
Has 1t Come to This?


The tone OF political life has come
T. pretty low eth when il il seriously
proposed, as "a choice 81 cxpedicuts.
that a. important an office as |. :.
Senator be placed At auction, for sale
t. the highest bidder, and that the
money hc paid into the State treasury,
instead OF going. as il generally does,
into the pockets Of men who are con-
-titutcd by the people lawmakers, to
enact statutes for control OF matters
affecting property rights OF OF life and
death.
it j. claimed that there is nothing
in the United States or State Consti-
tutions to forbid a State from putting
the office up to the highest bidder;
nor, may it be said, is there any special
inhibition from making laws that
would recognize the granting OF indul-
gences OF various sorts as q means Of
replenishing the States treasury. In
fact, il is claimed, that we have men,
orable church precedent for such justi
iication OF departure from the moral
code for great benefit TO good cause;
and il the principle is recognized as at
all tolerable, it is only matter OF
degree OF wrong and the compensation
of good that may be considered. If a
tax-ridden community would hurl the
weight OF accumulating debt from its
shoulders, it might be a simple process
OF addition, division and silence" to
ascertain how far the bid Tor bonus,
let Us call iD Of each available candi-
date (measured not by girt Of body or
brain, but OF avoirdupois of his "bar'r")
would so towards accomplishing that
desirable result. The choice would
then be easy, and results, if bargain
be reached, far more certain than the
promise of appropriations for the Seat
tle-Lake Washington or the Olympia
Gray's Harbor canals.
The influence of the Senator in
"The American House OF Lords" would
be in no wise impaired for admission,
(unless charged with polygamy) for has
not already the crime OF bribery in
volved in buying ones seat been con-
doned and justified repeatedly by the
Senate itself; and has it not eminent
jurisdiction of the election, returns
and qualifications OF its own members?
Can usage and assent to notorious
precedent do else than establish the
rule?
Then if the mercenary plan should
be adopted, It would be no more than
fair to exact bond for faithful dis
charge of duty as outlined by platform,
which would probably hold the Sena-
tor faithful, unless plutocratic wealth
could afford to indemnify him for his
treachery, when the people would re.
ceive another doucier as a reward, based
upon his perfidy. In either toss-head
or tail-they win.
The wonder is, however, that it be-
comes necessary to discuss sacred mat
ters of principles with this bluntness
and in such venal strain, but it is
probably the only way to awaken
conscience that has become dulled by
familiarity of custom to . realization
OF just where sordid politicians are
leading the common people, who, we
still believe, are honest and patriotic.
1t should be remembered in this con.
nection, where it so truthfully applies,
that
"vice is q monster of so frightful mein,
Ae to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too Oft, familiar with her face
We 0rst endure, then pity, then embrace"