Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1861-10-18
What Ought The Republican Conven-
ton to do E?

what Ought Inc Republican COnven-
ton to do
The Republican Convention which meets
at Jefferson tomorrow will have delicate
duty TO perform, but we have faith to be-
lleve that it will discharge it with accept
ability to the people and credit to itself
The question it will be called upon to de-
eide first Of all is, Shall the nominees pre-
sented by it it be taken from the Republi-
can party exclusively. or shall they be in
part chosen from the ranks Of the Democ-
racy. While there is a strong feeling on
the part of many that in these times party
strifes should be avoided as much as posi-
bic, there is also counter sentiment in the
minds Of many of our party friends that
in view of the narrow minded policy Of the
Democratic State Convention which placed
in nomination a straight party ticket and
frowned upon all attempts on the part of
some of its members to form a Union tick
ct, the Republican party in continuing to
follow the example set by its State Con-
vention in going outside of its own organ
ization for candidates, shows too much
magnanimity, and deserves more credit for
this virtue than for discretion. 1t is true
that the Democratic party has not treat
ed the prefers of the Republican party for
an amicable contest on the State ticket, as
it should have done, but on the other hand
has chosen to put in the field ticket COM
prised of only men of its own party. It
has even gone further than this and repu-
dated the Democrats nominated by the
Republican Convention, one of the dele
gates even going SO far as to read them out
of the party entirely and say that they are
no longer Democrats, having accepted
nomination at the hands of a Republican
Convention.
It must be confessed there is no very
strong inducement, in view of these facts,
for the Republican'party to seek any furth-
er utilization, politically, with its opponents
1t is true the latter have treated us con-
temptuoutly and failed TO acknowledge the
courtesy which we have shown in yielding
them a part of the honors and offices
which we have at our command and it is
also true that should the Republican con-
vention tomorrow place in nomination a
fair proportion of Democrats, there is ev-
cry reason for believing that the Demo
cratic State Convention will not adopt them
though they be tho purest and best men to
be found in its ranks. But this should
make no difference with the deliberations
of our convention. The offices to be filed
are OF great Importance. The financial at
fairs of the county are to be entrusted to
the keeping of the Supervisors to be cleo
ted, and We believe, il view of all the cir
eumstances, that the Republican convention
will act wisely in overlooking the selfish
ness and want of sympathy on the part of
Democrats, and placing in nomination good
men without any regard to their political
standing in former times
The positions to be filled are not Of a
political character Neither party has
anything to make by having them occu-
pied by men Of its own political faith but
all parties and all classes have much to
make OR naueh TO lose, depending only up
on the success or failure of the occupants
thereof in faithfully discharging their du-
ties. they are honest and intelligent,
business men of tried integrity, the inte-
rests Of the county will not De likely to
suffer, and the party or the convention
which presents such men is the only one
that deserves to succeed. There are
enough such in the Republican party, SO
that 1t is not necessary to look elsewhere
for candidates but We would have the
Convention show to the people, and the
Democracy in particular, that though the
Republicans succeeded in eleeting their
ticket in the county last fall by an average
majority of over four hundred, and is able to
accomplish a like result now, yet that thew
are willing to waive their power and
strength, at this time, and allow their DO
Iitlcal Anniversaries to participate in the en-
joyment of offices which they could not OBJ
tain in any other way. We hope, there
fore, that the ticket presented tomorrow
will be made up of good men, representing
both political parties, and that the very
last question asked in regard to a candid
ate after he is nominated, will be, Is he a
Democrat or Republican Rather let
the test be the old Jefferson1an one as to
honesty, faishfulness and oapability.,-
Should the nominees fail to answer these
requirements. they are undeserving of the
peoples support, and we trust will not re-
ceive it.