Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-11-08
OUR VOTES AND OUR PARTY.


1t is not often, even here in Massachusetts,,
that the day of state election comes with SO
little preliminary stir as the present. The
Democrats have no hope OF carrying such an
election in this state, and therefore have no
motive to excite them unduly. They would
go wild with astonishment and be unable to re-
cover their wits for many days, if they should
see their state ticket elected. The Republi-
cans are so sure of carrying the election, that
they probably do not give the matter as much
thought and work as duty requires They
will generally, We suppose, be at the polls and
vote for the regularly nominated candidates of
their party. They will do this because they
are devoted to the principles Of the Republican
party and believe it has a most important mis-
sion in American politics. 1t seems to us
duty to sustain all nominations regularly and
fairly made so long as we uphold the party and
wish to see it strong and successful every
where.
Our state ticket has on it the same names
which were there last year and the year pre-
vious. They are the names of good Repub-
icans and good mon If there were any dan
ger of their defeat, the vote to-day would be
very much larger than is likely at present.
The whole vote last year was some $4,000 less
than in 1856; and there are indications that it
will be smaller this year Voting is duty
which no good citizen should neglect or treat
so lightly. We should vote at every election
and make it understood that our ballot shall be
given as certainly as an election takes place,
save when to give it is impossible. These
fluctuations in the vote at different elections,
shows that there are too many who do not feel
this duty as its importance requires,-too
many who trife with the responsibilities of the
elective franchise, by treating it as a personal
affair which may be used or neglected, accord
ing to the within or convenience of the hour.
The greatest activity is just now apparent in
the little Odds and Ends party, which, this
year, calls itself the Opposition" Last year
this party called Itself american" and cast
some 10000 votes for Amos A. Lawrence.
But that name is no longer potent. In fact il
has become suspicious, and nobody finds it
worth much. Therefore it has been dropped,
and the present coalition OF opposition elements
has not been christened. We notice that in
one or two localities it gets little assistance
from few of the American Republicans, who
went to Fitchburg to demolsh the state treas
urer and several other gentlemen whom the
Republicans have seen fit to nominate as can.
didates for office. The Boston Courier has
most appropriately assumed TO be its organ
and that sheet, which has sought for a party
with lonesome anxiety, somewhat as Saul
hunted for his fathers asses, is trying hard to
Guido itself 1t is amusing to read some OF
the Courer's articles, in which it tries
to put on a nonchaant, Iollicking air,
and demoish the Republican party in the
most relentless fashion. Its stories are
so big, its senom so abundant, and its impo-
tence so laughable, that we do not see how it
can survive and find itself in a condition to re-
new this kind of warfare, when the election is
over. Hon. George N. Briggs, who heads
this opposition state ticket without having ac-
cepted the nomination, is a respectable gentle
man. Mr.. Sumner, the candidate for Lieut..
Governor, is not man whom we admire at
all of the other candidates ON this ticket we
know little or nothing.
1t is likely that those who dream that such
an opposition party can succeed here in Massa.
chusetts, at the present time, will at length see
things more clearly. 1t may be that we are
mistaken in supposiDg them capable of seeing
anything clearly; yet we cherish the belief
that time win cure their unfortunate madness
and enable them to see what the Republican
party means, and understand why it is not in
their power to destroy this party and "restort
the Bourbons."