Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-02-26
't,a5 .iH9iua Staadaiu
OLYMPIA. WASH.
FRIDAY N0Ri.ii. FEBEl'AnY g. 1904.
The domination CT Wealth.

'!HN. Jan. lltb, mace some thOUg II
full references to the changes which
aggregation Of wealth has effected in
our political system. He called at
tention 80 the fact that formerly New
England was half Democratic; whilst
Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island were in the Wing column,
Maine, New Hampshire and Connect
cut inclined to Jeiiersonian Democ.
racy.
notwithstanding an increase Of man
u.acturing and foreign.born popula-
ton, which generally count for Demo-
cratic gains, New England is to-day
solidly Republican. In explanation
the Governor held that it is in the in
creased power OF money for elections,
accompanied by the drift OF nearly all
men of wealth into the Republican
party. This influence, he holds, is
almost unbounded. The great daily
papers with the sole exception OF the
Hearst circuit, be it noted,) are owned
and controlled by the moneyed power,
and find lucrative field OF operation
in the patronage of rich men and cor
porations. 1t has become customary
to estimate in yearly business, not any
specific amount for legitimate adver-
Using, but given per cent. for subsi-
dizing the daily press of such circula-
ton and influence as to justify it.
Even so-called Democratic papers in
the larger cities, are under corporate
influence, and are thus enabled to do
more than the outspoken Republican
papers in aid of that party. This is an
influence at work continually, all the
year round, and it is by no means sur.
prising that popular sentiment is
largely swayed by it.
But then, this is not the only way
the morals of the people are democrat
lied by wealth. The old-time influence
so dreaded by the outs, 6" the cohesive
power of public plumber" has been
superseded by more direct, and not
less potent, induence-the direct pow.
er of the almighty dollar-rendered
possible by the generalization OF pub
lie sentiment. Our fathers and grand.
fathers who would have Indignantly
spurned q bride, but the modernized
sentiment due largely to the million.
OF pensioners upon government boun'
ty, has brought about sordid feeling
of selfishness, which makes the worl
of the campaigner, with sack, almost
invincible. And there are so many
so.called legitimate ways of lullinl
the conscience to quietude and remov'
ing moral stigma, in the shrewd use ol
campaign funds, that it scarcely needs
the open bribery to secure seat in the
American House of Lords." a. . prec.
edent, for justification. Clubs are sus.
tanned, workers hired to qualify voters
and drive them to the polls, lavish en-.
tertainments are held, spectacular pub
lie meetings provided. and the blare
Of trumpet and beat Of drum respond
to the golden prompting of . lavish
hand.
It is by these methods that free gov.
eminent is made q travesty upon the
principles on which it is founded. II
is such prostitution of high purposes
that weakens the reverence it once in.
spired in the patriotic heart. It is this
obtrusive removal OF moral barriers
that weakeus our nation in direct ratio
to the sacrifice of love and reverence
for free government.
Gov. Garvin holds that the people Of
the New England States are still, d
heart, Democratic; that they are op
posed to tho policy carried into effect
BY their State government, and otter
regard their most important acts o.
legislation as wrong. They occasion
ally rejoice in secret over the veto of 4
party measure, but are powerless with
out some means for combination. L
inaugurate reasonable plans for relief
The fact is beyond controversy, tina
q very large proportion Of Republican,
in New England are in sentiment
Democrats.
Very few men in the Republican
party have TO dictate its policy. Thii
has been shown in our own State o
Washington. Up to 1896, the Repub
lican party Of this State was thorough.
ly grounded in bimetallism. TIT
party journals published most logicaI
and consistent articles favoring use o.
silver equally with gold for all purposes
of redemptionary money. They wen,
to the State Convention shouting fol
free" silver "a misnomer, by the way
as much as "free" trade), with lusty
lungs, but = telegraphic order to adopt
the gold unit came from the big hos,
in the East to the small State bossel
here, and the order passed down the
line and was swallowed with many
grimaces and much repugnance. They
all returned home, silent and sulky
but entirely subservient, goldbugs
That is what party discipline will do
seasoned with promises of patronage
and pulls at the string of the party
corruption sack. The leaders simply
pay their money and have their choice
Of platform. condition made possible
by the influence OF lavish sums distrib
uted 30 generously as to overcome and
entirely subvert all promptings Of rec
titude or principle.
It is claimed that the ALTERNATIVE,