Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-11-16
Are We a Courteous People?


"
our relations of life as well-disposed
visitors occasionally think us? Are we
a. courteous as mixed blood, equitable
laws and prevailing sentiment oi self
respect might zee scasonahle expected to
make us: Do We not sometimes con-
found ISSUES. confuse disinterestedness
with pulitenrss and believe that because
good breeding comes from the heart, all
good-hearted people are consequently
we'll bred? Yet there are men and wo-
men who stand ever ready To help their
fcllow-crcaturcs, and who are seldom or
ever polite to them. Doctor Johnson
was one Of the kind,.st Of men, but of
that courtesy which respects the feelings,
a, well Is the rights. ui others he had
never the fainte,t perception. Now,
what harm does it do man to contra
diet him" he used Ia say; and contra
,liction was the guiding principle Of his
talk. 1t is guiding principle with peo-
pie with of much less intelligence to-day,
acerhity, Obstructive alike of pleasure
and RESPONSIVENESS. 1t is supposed to
be 4 masculine prerogative, but, like
other masculine prerogatives, has been
uslrpcd by an advance-guard of wo-
m,n.'
That the habit is acquired at the ex.
pense OF popularity, is shown in every
community, where you may see a
mild, stiable, easy-gOing smooth.
bore" sort of individual, surprising in
business endeavor, or political ambi-
tions, the true man OF brains, simply
by being able to stroke the fur the
right way on everybody he comes in
contact with. 1t is thus that the
public is served ofttimes by public
officers OF mediocre ability, while the
qualified and competent are turned
down simply for want of appreciation,
or inability to understand, human ma.
ture.
Time and again have we had such
object-lessons thrust upon US by the
public ballot. 1t will probably not be
treading upon anybody's toes by re-
ferring to incidents, by way of illustra.
ton, say third of a century ago,
when our county elected paralytic to
the Legislature who had lost the power
of articulation, and had to vote by
signs or the voice of . proxy; another
who sat through the whole session
without making a motion and was
VIGOROUSLY coached" by his desk.
mate to vote intelligently enough to
at least subserve party lines. Both
these men were "good fellows" and
the latter could play about the stiffes'
hand at poker Of anybody in the coun'
~. and they both defeated candidates
Of fair ability and physical perfection
but men of aggressive habits, who
having opinions, believed in giving
expression to them. This habit is uoI
always 80 much for Q victory owe,
those who differ, as fer self .instruction
Many . man objects, simply 10 have ar
array of facts presented to if possible
remove q stumbling block to accept
ance Of q proposition, or at least dis
cover what may be said on the othel
side OF given aubject.
One of the most persistent and az
gravating opponents of the impartia
suffrage bill, which came up every
session of the Territorial Legislature
till it passed many years ago, wal
a member of that body, who, wher
cornered by committee of its advo
Gates, brought up formidable array
OF the old stock.in-trade objections
such as "woman was intended fol
home.life" and would degrade he
nature by association with politics,
and similar absurdities, who at las
substantially said: Ladies and gen
tlemen. and especially the former:
have often been almost persuaded tc
espouse your cause, but wanted to be
absolutely sure that I Was not mis-
taken. I hope you will excuse my
apparent roughness of criticism of pos
sible conditions that have thought
might result under unrestricted suf
frage. thought that the best way Il
arrive ct an intelligent understanding
would be to talk to those who have
made the subject . profound study, q.
believe you have. In the multitude
of councillors there is said 10 be wis
DOM do not dispute the assertion
and now regard it as q truism. Yor
have met and vanquished, one by one
my main objections, to impartial suf
frage. am a convert. Pray pardon
me for having used the scalpel fol
. searching diagnosis. The bill will
have my hearty support"
Was this member discourteous? Did
he not show fairness and consideration
under the rougher coating of conven
tienality?