Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-09-29
-,,Drxr CANDIDATES,

10 n'r r.mes of several persons, Of both
nd n1 r n.rI;es. who have offered their
ol!'cs' = The consideration Of their fellow
Fl'les' :. Independent candidates for
d's e..s TO which they aspire; and in
9 a,a,er conveying the idea that they
'. a free from the influence OF party
s ';as,ion, or are mo party men, Of
E'' ,nsr class, however. we are free to
!; 10Th, there are but few. as it will in most
fn' hs found independent men have been
' sss,oonted aspirsnts to party nomina,
''pp and the party TO which they belong
o ';,r "a failed to discover their eminent
, ''n,s. they are determined to force them
ls' ,hs service of the community.
~ W. ~ have, TOO, frequently heard those
/. y" u,ofessedIy belong 10 one or other of
Nv ,ro great parties-and who we are
I,;,c TO believe we're honest in their
;'a';oans-arguing in favor of the candi.
,ssanuouncing themselves for the differ.
:, Offices, and opposing party nomina-
Das contending that the former system
sre a greater scope for choice than the
'ner-and consequently that in majority
eases, the best men would be elected.
h, from the opinions and conclusions Of
o,e who argue thus, we beg leave to diff
= for even if party nominations were
r,,eIv laid aside, it would not always
amen that the most competent men in a
Immunity would be those who would
scome candidates for office. Men Of ca
|,eily and talent, would frequently shrink
nm entering the arena with a host of
0npel!urs, for fear that in the struggle
|, nace, the contest would become per
anal one and that the man who could
=, succeed in blackening the private
baracter Of his opponents, would be the
las, successful in the race.
On wha. grounds do these Independent
spdida,es:generally rest their claims. Is
mon the fact that the mass of the party
which they belong have failed to appre-
late their merits? Or does their excess
vanity lead then to believe that they
ts the only competent judges Of the wants
! The people They are generally men
no will accept Of party nomination. if
Iey can get one; but having failed in get
pg one, they at once become very wise
ben, and commenced finding fault with
be party-,aking great care to intimate
lat they Euow of a much better man who
tght 10 have received the nomination.
I'D tia. the person they allude 10 has been
cry much wronged by not being nomina
ID. After talking for short time with
ieir friends, in this manner, in order 10
|epare the way, they next assonish the
Subc with the name of this talented and
nuch-wronged parsonage, which is gene
ENy found appended to a notice common.
Ing With at the solicitation of number
/ my friends. l have consented to offer
bysef as candidate &c. &c. which be-
bg rendered into Ineligible English
houId read lowing to the high estimation
Which | place upon my own ability-and
|onsdering myself better judge Of the
|uaIica,ions necessary for the Office, than
The rest of my fellow citizens put to-
|sher-I have determined not to abide by
(eir decision, but become candidate
|c. Thus, they show disregard to the
|pinons of The party to which they belong,
llempt to dictate to them by endeavoring
cause division and discord in their
links; and at the same time soliciting the
Pfrages of.he very men whom they have
bsuled by doubling their ability to choose
candidate to represent them. and plainly
|rove 10 the world that their political prin-
piles are not worth a straw-but that
Per motto is 10 rule or ruin the party
which they belong.
If The difference between the two great
|cIltcal parties was merely struggle as
which should fill the different Offices,
ben we should be opposed to party nom
Fsions. But as they are at variance up
b principle-each firmly believing that
Fer doctrines are corrective believe in
|enina,ng men who are thought best able
represent and defend their peculiar prin
EPes.
In conducting our elections upon prin-
(P'e, The contest is usually Invested of
ts' bitter personal luminosity which would
Pherwise enter into it; and the chances
Pc greater that the best men will be Sc
|ec'ed 10 fill the different stations. Those
Eho have the confidence and esteem Of
ae'' political friends--and who were
aough best calculated 10 represent and
Fa'Fy out the principles they profess
gould be Inc nominees, and let either sue
ksss or defeat attend .hem, they would
pave the satisfaction of knowing that it
Vas The ascendancy of principle that de-
s'"aed the contest in favor of one or the
Plher,
now much pleasanter is a course Of
us End than the vain and egotistical 20.
"oa OF an INDEPENDENT candidate. Re-
nInt Il