Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-02-25

Following a Republican denuncia-
ton, in the Mason County Journal, of
recent article of mine which point
ed out the partisan unfairness and
Inconsistency of the Republican wall
about alleged Democratic hard
times" we now have a criticism by
my esteemed and talented Socialist
friend, Mr.. Melvin A. Sutton, of Har-
slime island. If I might next have
the felicity of an adverse criticism by
some good anarchist, I would deem
the democracy of the Democrats to
be we'll commended.
Mr.. Sutton's adverse criticism is
unique, not to say humorous, in an
infinite variety of ways. / regret to
say that it hardly merits serious re-
ply except as it might mislead many
who did not read the article that he
undertakes to criticize.
Let us take Mr.. Sutton's statements
in the order in which he makes them:
cit is the limit Of absurdity to con-
clude that the Republican party con-
tains within its folds all the capital
ists," remarks my astute friend.
Quite so, quite SO. l never heard of
anybody who entertained the absurd
idea. Why intrude it?
There are as many so-called cap
tains of industry who support the
Democratic party as there is of those
who support the Republican" says
Mr.. Sutton. Interesting If true. Sup
porting the Democratic party and
supporting the democratic tendency
may not always be exactly the same
thing. Mr.. Sutton's statement, how
ever, happens to be so far correct, &C.
cording to the public viewpoint, that
it is the commonest of sayings that
the Democrats have the argument
and the Republicans have the
money" In the list of conspicuous
plutocrats and special privilege bene-
ficiaries, the number who are even
Democrats in party name is negli-
gible quantity. The members of that
particular element of our citizenry
are, naturally enough and almost
without exception, supporters Of the
political party which during its prac-
tically undisturbed sway of half q
century granted and permitted to be
extended the conditions of special
privilege. II Mr.. Sutton does not
know this. 1t is merely because he has
not taken the trouble to investigate.
He criticized first. He might inves-
tigate now.
"The Republican party forever ban
ished bond slavery from America,"
says Mr.. Sutton, in warm defense Of
the political party which he was wont
Justify to assail in days gone by-be-
fore he changed from being Demo-
cratic party supporter to being q So
cialist party supporter. All honor.
indeed. to any living members Of the
present Republican ranks-or the
Democratic ranks. for that matter
who gave, as a matter of principle,
their services or their substance for
the overthrow Of chattel slavery. AS
to the rest. they are about as much
entitled to credit in the matter as I
am for anything that my father or
my grandfather did. Incidentally,
the Republican party Of ante-bellum
days was not an abolition party ct
all. Abolitionists weer treated with with
contumely and even violence In the
very hotbeds of Republicanism. The
cruellest slave dealers and overseers
we're the thrifty New Englanders, AL
Republicans to,a man. Scratch the z
average reactionary. plutosrstics Re-,
publican even of this day and ND t lin
and you find man who does not be,
lieve in the equality Of rights Of men,
who doubts that the negro - aIt9-
gether human. and r who sd thinks 1kEYsd that
the colored mans place M is enc es q feh H.
voluntary servitudeta, Pnhb2lHtsc; g s ge1fo
ment, the public tsn Egdla sforsceedd w
Republican patty t9 inHdiEEsseitlYt opRGGs9set
slavery. This social tendenccy wa HtS de- :,
veloped by ths ed g S A effo stiT 81
radical men who XfeETss ven F r9P5Hfnde e.
in the pripGiples s4o1 f fqYfn|aa 4nf Hg4s
democracy and swh who o were hhaatteed d'G dei h
spised, maligped. spddg Denounced t9S Y cedc' as
"mere theorists" by the politicians thhap 81
the etime, sitpaat asnthe same sane type q
men are today by the RlHHto SlH Ii q
the Republican party and the few
bourbon aristocTats of th lfa Democratic shnfos a
partge s'qmua oaroo0 10 botiaiV are
"Crover cleveland eiGned the