Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-03-04
u ashla9tQa Standard
OLYMPIA, WASH.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH /, 1901.
Wasted Sympathy.

Wasted Sympathy.
There has been in the prevailing
sentiment regarding the war in the
East many conflicting opinions, sway.
ing the sympathies for one or the 9TH
er Of the contestants upon what has APP
pearod to be valid grounds OF support.
One OF these has been the belief that
the Russian government had per
formed signal act OF friendship for
us during the dark days of rebellion.
by stationing Russian fleet in New
York harbor, to meet any contem-
plated act OF hostility on the part of
government that had already violated
international prophecies by fitting out
the Alabama to prey on American
commerce. While it has been freely
conceded that this act, as generally
recognized, might have been inspired
more by hatred of England than
friendship for our people, it sank deep
down into all hearts actuated by JUS
tice and moved by gratitude, and off
set to large degree the assembling
acts Of the autocrat OF the Russias in
settlement of the Manchurian ques.
ton, his remuneration of pledges, and
bis cruelty to the Jews. These have
served, in a great measure, to modify
the degree of obligation it had been
supposed we were under to q people
who, it would naturally be supposed,
held the smallest degree OF sympathy
with popular government.
Now comes no less authority than
Henry Clewes, the eminent fnancier
OF New York, who states on personal
knowledge that while Russian fleet
was in that harbor for a time, at q
critical period in the civil war, and
doubtless did good service in curling
interference from abroad which might
have led to final success of the rebel
cause, it was not at all an act of the
Car, or friendship of Russia in any
way, that prompted it, but simply an
act of fnesse on the part of that astute
statesman, William H. Seward, then
Secretary Of State. He, it is declared
invited the commander of the Russian
fleet, which was then in South Ameri
can waters, to bring his ships to New
York, and the invitation was accepted
1t was then given out through the
press in q way to create q belief thai
the Russian government had sent thu
fleet not only as a mark of friendship
but as warning to France and Eng
land. It doubtless had its effect, anC
while we feel reluctance to question
the quality of any gift, this becomes,
from the statement, 90 utterly devoid
of any praisewortby motive, that il
constitutes but frail barrier against
judgment on recent deeds.
Mr.. Clewes states that his informa
ton was derived personally from Mr.
Seward, and its truth is therefore be.
yond dispute.
A "COMEDY OF ERRORS" - And
now our wiseacres are going to sand.
blast the capitol annex to remove the
copper.colored tint given the stone
walls by an attempt to frescoe it 70
the color Of the Chuckanut material
of the main building. Well, we'll
what world of trouble they are hav.
ing over the job. First . mistake was
made in measurement of the area oil
the foundation and the building il
smaller than it should be; it was con
tracted to be completed October oI
1902, in time for the Legislature, and
1t is not yet finished; two rooms were
walled up without doors or Other
means of entrance; part Of the wal
had to be taken down TO install thu
heating and lighting plant, and nov
its surface will have to be peeled of
to make it presentable at . drawing
room reception; and there is no tell
ing what stumbling block may mex
roll into the pathway. The Stat
should sue on the contractors bont
for reasonable damages for costs o
delay and errors in construction.
THE paper trust is the most pamp
cred combine on the list, lately secur
ing an increase OF tariff duty from s
to s. per ton on imports, while export
Inc a tAnkh mart nf ita eukire nrnduc