Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-10-04
A Word ON Candidates.

g Principles, not men," has long been the raj
lying cry of parties in nominating Conventions.
This may sound very well, but surely no more
dangerous doctrine could be embraced; and in
the selection of candidates we hope our Republi-
can friends will be careful into whose hands they
conide our measures. If the principles Of our
party worth anything We should have good
and true men to represent them-men who under
stand them thoroughly and who know how to
carry them out. The very best men should be
selected from the fact that the few cardinal prin-
ciples of party cannot always be brought into
practical application to all the multitude of ca
in which the public officer is called upon to act.
More particularly is this the case in our present
embryo political condition, where the legislator
must chiefly devote his talent and energy to the
development of measures of local character,
in which he will always be left to his own discre-
ton--a discretion which he will exercise wisely
or unwisely, honestly or dishonesty, according
to the moral and intellectual qualifications which
he brings with him into the discharge of his du-
ties. W IL q ~
There are great many men who possess in an
eminent degree all the requisite intellectual quail
ifications to fill almost any position under the
workings of our Government, and if elected
would possess sufficient moral courage to do
their whole duty to the public; but unfortunately
these men are sometimes so politically associated
as to render their influence perfectly powerless
over the people, and hence their nomination
would eopardize the entire interests of the party
Men who have long stood before the public in the
light of petitioners for official honors and emolu-
ments generally receive but little charity from
the public in regard to tho rcctitude of their in
tentions,- particularly is this made manifest in
the case of those who have frequently been de-
fcated candidates. While we would be extremely
gratied to lend our humble aid in elevating this
class of men to positions of important trust in
view Of their political services to the party, we
cannot but doubt tho propriety of their nomina-
ton, and from consciousness of duty shall op-
pose putting forward at the present crisis this
class of men.
If the people take the interest they should in
the nominating Conventions, and select good and
capable men from their own ranks to fill the diff
fercnt Offices, little if any danger need be appre-
hcnded over the result. But if the people re-
main at home and abandon these Conventions to
the control OF professional politicians the result
may be vastly different, in this case prejudice
may override duty and result in the defeat of our
ticket. ,.
Let us try the experiment Of selecting our NOM
inees from class of men who have never been
known in the capacity of Office seekers--not men
of professional learning necessarily, but men of
strong common sense who can bring with them
into the discharge of legislative duties suAi-
cicnt fund of practical knowledge to benefit the
people at large, and who will never concede to
make merchandise of their influence in that ca
pacity. To be successful we must show more Of
disposition to better the condition of the pco-
PIE at large by wise legislation than mere or
ganization to elevate politicians to Office There
fore let our nominees be such as will create no
suspicious or cause apprehensions of defeat.