Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-07-29
MORE TWADDLE.
July 18th.

discussing the ull1ercnce IN policies
between the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties. You use the term
principle; if either of these parties
stand for anything of that kind at
the present time, | am unable to I'M
derStand what you mean; unless it is
a desire to capture offices and get in
close proximity to the public pie
counter. evidences principle worthy
of contention, which seems TO me a
misnomer. Your references to Arts
totle, Hamilton and Jefferson are not
pertinent further than to show at
any given time the ruling economic
class controls the political situation
and the form of government. Our
system of government in the first in
stance was compromise between
the feudal, slave-holding interests of
the South, and the commercial inter.
ests of the North. The latter won
out in the sixties, and have been in
the saddle ever since, whether Oper-
ated through the Republican or DEM
Ocratic political machine. 1t may be
true that the Republican party has
been more pronounced in its stand
with the "big interests" than its
twin brother, because the latter had
less cohesive power to help them in
exploiting the people, but the mo-
tives and intentions were and remain
there the same. These two parties
raise sham issues to distract the at
tentiOn of the people, who suffer from
bad economic conditions which in
spite of all palliatives intensity every.
hour. Whenever the object is to i'm
prove the permanent condition of d
people small measures not merely
produce small effects. they produce
no effect at all. John Stuart Mild.
Conservatives and old party politici
ans think society is sick, needs palli-
atives, such as a tariff for revenue or
for protection for home industries,
resort to plasters to drive tie sores
within the organism, which is not
sick but is struggling for a new
birth, with incidental pangs prior to
and at the change. These pangs in
tensify as the crisis approaches.
This is the lesson of history and soci-
Ology. (Spencer.) A change of eco
nomic base regarding the means OF
production and distribution Of lifes
comforts and necessities will then be-
come necessary. In the meantime,
during this transition period neither
of the old parties will be able to
handle the situation for the best in
terests of the people, because they
are the expression of economic con-
ditions which have been outgrown
and are hoary with age. Any politi-
cal movement must march in ca
dence with the evolution of progress
or fall behind in the procession.
New wine cannot with safety be
placed in old bottles, neither would
it be expedient to place a modern
steam engine and boiler in an old
sailing craft and start the machinery
working; something would give way,
which might be attended with I'M
pleasant results.
You write about free govern
ment." Was there ever any such
thing known to humanity on this
earth? Is this not q contradiction
in terms? Spencer says government
is begotten of and by aggression.
He was an orthodox political ecOno-
mist of the Jndividualist type. to
whom members of the United States
Supreme Court have referred in re-
cent years. Social States. See
also Paines Rights of Man, / pre-
sumo, however, you mean to convey
the idea we live under the finest gov,
eminent of any on Earth. do not
deny this proposition, but fail to see
that it is now administered in the
best interests of the people. Again
granting the truth OF this premise.
should not our people continue to
improve the system of sovereignty,
instead of wandering through the
mists OF the past, reciting the vir-
tues Of their great granddaddies
which never existed in fact, and who
were confronted with different prob
lens in economies and government t.
than those which now present them
selves to the thoughtful men and wo-
men OF earth, who do not pay the
Difference to old, out-of-date prece-
dents as their ancestors were wont
to do. Onward towards tie light,
is the watchword. Old forms are
dead. Both OF the old party ma
chimes stand for measures out OF har-
mony with the best interests of the
people. that bring panics; financial
depressions and suffering, to the pro-
ducers Of wealth. who comprise the
main body OF the people. Referring
to New York. the largest American
city. according to the latest statistics
compiled by the City Charity Bureaus
what do we find =? That in 1909,
eight hundred and ninety of its in
habitants committed suicide, about
one out OF every seven persons who
died was buried in Potter's Field.
The increase in this respect between
1902 and 1909 was 1915 per cent.
Similar conditions prevail in Repub-
lican Chicago and Philadelphia, If
municipal affairs are to be credited.
White slave traffic in girls exist in
Democratic and Republican cities
alike. (HOme's Commission Report
Senate Document 1861 Is it not
about time. we should have change
for the better? 1t is said the dark
est part Of the night is just before
daylight. A child is quickening in
the womb of progress. Who will
scout the idea that such evils and in
justice must needs be-?
Yours respectfully.
BYRON MILLETT.