Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-22
PROGRESS OF THE CONTROVERSY.
OLYMPIA, July Is, 1910.

To TIE EDITOR:
| have read Mr.. Conine 5 communi-
cation in last week issue of the
STANDARD. He does not attempt to
answer my position on the original
proposition he presented in his COM
munication of June Oath ultimo as to
the difference in policies between the
Republican and Democratic parties,
but proceeds to arraign the record of
the former party in language which
is exceedingly emphatic if not vitu-
perative, which is not relevant to the
text. His first statement was, beg
ging pardon of your readers for
quoting second time:
In fact there is no more similar
ity in the principles of the two par
ties than there is between band of
pirates and a community of honest
men.
| denied the truthfulness of Mr..
Confines assertions in this regard
and demanded the proof, which he
has failed to furnish for the faith
that is in him. | do not claim the
masses OF voters in either of the old
parties are pirates, whether they are
honest or otherwise l have no means
at hand by which this matter may be
correctly determined, but am willing
to resolve the doubt in favor of innO-
cence. did claim. however, in my
communication of July lSt inst, that
both of these parties stood. for poll
cieS inimical to best interests of the
people, and tried to show that Dem
ocratic officials and politicians stood
for the evils of child labor conditions
in the South. while in the North
under Republican rule these sad
conditions have been somewhat abat-
ed by legislation. That the shiny
trail of the serpent is seen in both
sections is fact that | will not pre-
tend to deny. Moreover, furnished
data showing that in communities in
which the Democratic party was in
control that hungry men had been
abused, insulted and dubbed by
Democratic officials; that Democratic
legislators in Illinois sold their votes
to elect a Republican United States
Senator. These facts, MIR. Conine
does not have the temerity to dis
pute. but asserts in effect that Re-
publican methods in years past and
now constitute the sum of all villa
MES. II his conclusion is correct his
party is tarred with the same stick.
Mr.. Confines reference to our gov
arc,,oo< ,>r;o,. 20 1000 ,,,1Io,. tho do
minior of the Democratic party is
very unfortunate as an argument in
favor of his position. The party
then in power stood for chattel slav-
cry, and in the fifties con tended with
the Republican party which stood Tor
the nOn-extentiOn of slavery. The
success of this latter party on that
issue in 1860, caused a great Demo
cratic rebellion, which Mr.. Conine
helped to suppress. Were you right
or wrong, MIR. COnine, in so doing
Now answer squarely, yes or no, and
do not dodge the question. Tie
strength regarding the membership
of the Democratic party was then, as
it is now in the Southern States.
Politicians in those States character
lied Northern Democrats as dough-
faces:
Pollard's Lost Cause.
Greeley's American Conflict.
1t is true this war was not waged
to abolish chattel slavery in the
United States, but to preserve the
Union OF States. Lincoln, when he
issued his famous emancipation proc
lamation in 1862, which went into eff
feet January first, 1863. claimed such
action was necessary in order to
cripple the enemy. He did not argue
the moral phase OF the question of
chattel slavery, his position rested
on the ground of that of a military
necessity.
A political party is an abstraction.
1t must be judged by the actions Of
its officials and agents. whom it
places in power in the same manner
as public and private corporations
are dealt with.
This premise being true, how
stands the record of your party be-
fore the people Of this country ?
Did not q Democratic Judge Of the
United States Supreme Court vote to
declare the last income tax law un-
constitutional Did not Demo
cratic Governor of New York in 1892
call out the State militia to overawe
hungry laborers who were striking to
maintain their rights
How about Democratic and Repub-
lican politicians and bOodlers figur-
ing conspicuously in the insurance
companies scandals in the State of
New York o few years ago? Nu-
merous other instances Of the same
character might be given in the same
connection if space would permit.
Now. Mr.. Conine. in view of such
facts how can you truthfully main
tain your party stands for the best
interests Of the people, or for any
thing looking in that direction, even
/, if all the wicked things with which
you charge the Republican party be
true? 1t is the old story in which
the kettle called the pot black.
Can the Ethiopian change his
skin, or the leopard his spots ?"
BYRON MILLErT.