Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-04-13

| Patricidn IDEAS with the Old. lime Respect
for the Dignity of individuality. and See
Where We Are Drifting - Are We Not
"Lulus.' to Allow Ourselves to Be Bound
Hand and Foot?
ED. STANDARD:
Are We drifting toward imperialism ?
1t certainly looks like it, if we are to
judge from past history. All the his
tory of the past, all the indications of
the times point clearly to this culmi.
nation.
What has been the history of the
past? First, q republic and honest,
sturdy simplicity; next, growth Of
wealth, followed by a constantly in
creasing luxury. What was the out.
come OF these conditions in all these
republics? Glass distribution, founded
upon plutocratic basis, and official
and industrial corruption, born OF the
wild scramble after wealth and its os.
tentatious fooleries. Have not these
condities always proved the evil from
which ruling class has sprung, fol-
lowed by monarchy and an aristoc.
racy? Are we not following in the
footsteps Of ancient republics? Are
not the sons OF our rich men begin
ming to ape the dress, the manners
and the modes of speed OF the gilded
youth OF toyland? II a foreign noble.
man, comes 70 this country, he is
feted, entertained and run after by
our society dudes to q finish. We
already have q class that considers
itself superior to the ordinary citizen.
We find them in all the leading cities.
A large percentage of this class, called
high society, already spend most of
their time in Europe, where they can
bask in the sunshine of aristocracy
and creep within the shadow OF
throne. Those possessed OF marriage
able daughters will barter their very
souls for the purpose OF marrying Off
such daughters to European aristo.
Gratis, dukes, counts, earls aud barons,
anything for title. No reputation is
or character to vile, provided they are
gilded over by q patent Of nobility.
First wealth. next luxury, then q de.
sire to be distinguished above the
common herd, then the craving for
decorations and titles!
In theory the power OF the people is
supreme, in reality amyth. Take it
during the past two thousand years.
In all these centuries the great masses
of the people have been poor, bard.
working. The few have been rich,
pampered, over INDUCED and con.
tented. Are the masses really salts
fed with this order Of things? Ger.
tainly not. At any time, and in any
country we're the masses organized
and made to see the trend OF affairs
the remedy was easy. But they never
have been so organized and united and
the special class has ever governed the
the masses. Is il not so in this coun.
try to-day? 'Tis truep we have our
labor organizations and strikes, but
what do they it amount to. Whenever
tho people really begin to grow dan.
gerous and threaten the existing order
of things, the soldiers come forth, SOL
diers, mark you, drawn from the
masses and the trouble, is promptly
put an end to. Is it not true that
valuable franchises belonging to the
people were acquired by trick and de.
vice far below their actual valuef Is
it not true that official corruption has
been openly and notoriously rampant
on every side; that judges sit on the
bench because they are the political
creatures Of q political boss, nomi.
mated and elected, not because OF their
integrity or knowledge of law, but at
the behest OF party leaderf Justice
herself is sullied at her very fountain
head. Our police force, as . rule, is
nothing more nor less than an organ.
lied bsndetti clothed with the uniform
OF law and order and paid by the peo.
pie; but dispensing oppression and
levying blackmail right and left.
Our daily papers are full of instances
where capitalists have manipulated
corners on most of the necessaries of
life, forcing up the prices At a time
when the products were most needed
to relieve the suffering, making the
price prohibitive to the poor while the
"corner" is piling up money for the
monopoly, and yet we tamely submit
to the extorti0n and vot 'er straight
for a perpetuation of latter-dsy Repub.
blican fallacies.
What is our capital city on the Po.
tomac but hot bed OF corruptioni
IL not political intrigue the order OF
the dayf Can Q pure stream flow
from polluted fountain.bead? Never.
Does not most all our political cussed.
ness emanate from that sourcef Ii
there any probability of purifying the
iountain.head with tbe remedies sug.
gested by the d. o. p.i Not on your
life. What thenf Cleanse the Au.
gean stables by placing therein men oil
integrity; men who have the welfare
Of the whole people at heart; men who
cannot be bribed, cajoled or frightened
by the pomp of wealth and splendor
Say arn't we "lulus" to allow our
selves to be bound hand and foot BY q
few cormorants whose sole object il
the acquisition of millions?
! ]. G. CONNIE.