Year: 1875

Party SPoIL.-The editor of the Stand
ard has already begun to mark men tor
the slaughter, and others for promotion,
upon the prospect of a Democratic party
triumph in 1S76-two years hence.
That is but natural. for he knows no
other motive to political endeavor, no
other object'of party organization, than
is expressed in the maxim, "to the VIC
tor belongs the spoils." 1t was to that
end he published "the only Republican
paper in Washington Territory" at
time when there were political ques-
tions at issue. 1t was to that end he
supported an Independent ticket IN
1872, and advocated and voted for the
election of Republicans for the pIincl-
pal county offices, and bitterly opposed
and assailed the same men at the next
succeeding election, for no other reason
than that they we're candidates upon
icket adverse to that upon which he
himself was candidate. 1t was through
his support of an " Independent" ticket,
and by bargain and division with Repub-
lican allies in caucus, that he achieved
the honors and emoluments of an office
which he continues to hold by the tole-
ration of Republican Executive, even
while he denounces Republican Judge
ss unfaithful to party usages tor ap-
pointing Deputy Clerk who had not
fairly won the position by party SER
vices; position which has as little
bearing or influence upon politiea! issues
as that of purser on steamer or book
keeper in a commercial house. And
we will here say, that the Judge made
that appointment independent of party
considerations, with sole reference to
the public service, at the request and
with the approval of large majority OF
the bar of his Judicial District; setting
an example of an Independent Judiciary
worthy the imitation of his successor.
under whatever party auspices he may
succeed.


But the Standard editor. assuming to
speake for the Democratic party, init
mates in unmistakable language. that he
has marked the "Brown family" for
prescription under Democratic rule.
He is counting his chickens before
they are Matched" but in any event he
is welcome to all he can make on that
score. If he should devote all the abil~
itv he possesses, and all the elaboss OF his
natural life, together zith all his accu


mutations from the patronage OF Re-
publican Administration, to the service
of the Democratic party, he never could
equal the unrequited services rendered
to the party by thu senior member Of
that family or compete with him for
party favors we're party services the sole
test of merit; services rendered when
principles were the sole issues, imme-
diate defeat inevitable. personal reward
homeless and no ends to serve of pri-
yate or personal character. During
many long years of such service. as the
editor of party organ, he never once
levied a contribution upon his party or
its candidates for support; never sought
or accepted nomination OF appoint
ment to a political Office, or used the
organ of the party under his control to
promote the personal ends Of any indi-
yiduaI member thereof. This service
was continued, regardless of private
sacrifice, so long as there was single
political principle at issue between the
two political parties, and until 1t was
manifest to all disinterested observers
that the conflict between parties had
deeenerated into mere scramble for
spoils. When did the editor OF the
Standard render disiuteTested ser ice to
either of the political parties which at
various times he has assumed to repre-
sent-the Republican party, the John
son party, the Independent party, or
the Democratic party? Upon what es-
sential political principle does he differ,
or pretend to differ, with his Republi-
can contemporary in the same office?


Without changing our political senti-
ments in a single neutrality-suspicious.
which we hold in common with men
high in the confidence of the Admins
tration-we have not. for more than
four years past, taken part In any
party caucus, convention or organizes
ton of any nature or description. Dur
ing that time we have been, and are
now, entirely independent and free from
all party pledges, commitments or affili-
ations. Our political action has been
uninfuenced by any party bias, consid-
Grafton Of reward or fear Of personal
consequences, actuated solely by what
we regarded as promotive of the best In
terests of this community in its Terri
torial dependency. In this condition
there is not, and cannot be, political
issue over which we have any control
upon which to divide the people into
political parties. The support which
we have given to the Administration
and its representatives, is precisely the
same in measure which we would give
to a Democratic Administration. We
are but the wards of the Government
in the selection of which we have no
choice. The Administration is the rep
resentative of our government. Its
conduct towards us is all with which we
have anything to do. We have the
right to criticize, condemn or approve
its acts. We may petition, memorial
ize and demonstrate. There our power
ceases. To organize q political party
based upon no other principle than op-
position to the General Government,
has no practical purpose in improving
our condition. A party organization IN
Territory for the support Of the Gov
ernmeut. can have no other use than in