The Political Boomerang of 1889
An editorial reflects on a controversy involving a judge candidate and the toxic, defamation-heavy political climate of young Washington State.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Some of the quarters are currently rife with talk that the language that the local press heaped upon the character of T. I. Hiles, a candidate for Supreme Judge, has aroused general indignation. Even Democrats revolt. They disavow the 'sewer garden' style of politics arrived at in this crusade. They want the young state of Washington to march into the Union under whatever flag, but with clean hands. They don't want their party to try to achieve power, if at all, with no ground for the declaration or the suspicion that they are to seek guardianship or maintenance of personal character. It is an indication that the class of citizens in Tacoma, irrespective of party, will set the seal of their condemnation on such campaigning by rallying masses to the support of their respected and traduced fellow-citizens. In Seattle, beyond a doubt, a formidable movement in the same direction may be looked for. It now seems safe to premise that this malevolently assailed gentleman will lead the poll of Republican candidates for state offices. Apart from any consideration of the personal merits of the gentleman who happens to be the object of it, this is a very gratifying manifestation of the clear and healthy tone of the politics of our young state. At once, and it is to be hoped for all time, it will put a quietus on the vilely defamatory style of campaigning in the state of Washington. At once and for all time it will establish the rule that political contests in Washington will be fought and won or lost in defense of political principles.
“They want the young state of Washington to march into the Union under whatever flag, but with clean hands.”
In 1889, as Washington prepared for statehood, newspapers were calling out 'sewer garden' politics—a rhetorical predecessor to our modern era of 'fake news' and smear campaigns. The plea for a return to 'political principles' over personality-based defamation remains a recurring, frustrated hope in Seattle’s local civic discourse more than a century later.
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