The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-21

of the striking evidences Of this sad and bu-
initiating condition Of affairs is the free and
authoritative tone with which few hundred
men often talk Of Withdrawing a candidate
and efTecting fusion Of parties representing
several millions Of actual voters, and affecting
the political interests of millions Of people.
These selfcreated autOcrats seem TO think
that they hold the great body Of the American
population in species of serfdom, and under
take accordingly TO dispose Of their suffrages
in national election very much as the
naughty barons In ieudal times were wont TO
engage for the amount Of force with which
they would support one cause or another in
the wars of rival chieftains. Our demagOgues
treat the people as if they we're a set Of abject
retainers, whom they can throw on any side
In an electoral contest with the most perfect
ease and certainty. There have been hume
rous instances when, within a few hours of a
most important State or Federal election, an
entire party ticket has been suddenly can
celled, and many thousands of votes trans
l6rrcd TO an interest with which the necessary
arrangement and understanding had bsen
made. And this whole matter, seemingly 10
complicated and difficult in the number Of
separate wills and voices to be controlled, has
been accomplished by score of cunning wire
pullers, sitting together in a secret conclaye
and settling the condition of the bargain.
This is disgraceful to the country. It indi-
Gates a most discreditable state Of political
morals; 1t proves how shamefully the people
have allowed themselves to be brought under
subsection to corrupt party leaders; it places
the government of the nation in the power Of
few ambitious, designing men, who are
always ready to sacrifice the public peace and
happiness if they can but gain by it some per-
sonal profit and advancement Politicians in
! all quarters of the Union change their prin-
ciples as readily as their coats, and are never
at a loss for some specous motive Of patriotism
to justify each successive act Of apostasy.
This would be bad enough if it stopped with
the individual. But when one ofthese political
Dalgettys undertakes to carry with him in his
frequent desertions from party to party two or
three thousand voters, whom, under the name
Of constituents, he regards as 30 many blind
followers Of his lead, the fact acquires an
alarming import.
If there is any country in the world where
every citizen, in the affairs of government,
should think and act for himself that country
is ours. We cannot surrender here lnde-
pendence of thought without abandoning our
liberties. The integrity and safety of the
State depend ultimately on an intelligent and
, honest concern of every man in the choice of
, public servants, and the principles which are
= TO be pursued in the National Administration.
s We have hitherto been too much controlled
o by organizations and creeds, and party cries
/ Political writers and political speakers have
: had too absolute a sway over our passions ant
r reason. The time has come when every ont
who has a Suffrage to cast, which is to tell Oh
g the interests of the Republic through tn
eff Government, should do his own thinking ant
% voting.
l. The time has come when conventions anC
IS platforms ought to be considered as possessed
n rightiully Of no authority to override the un
8 derstandng and control the personal freedom
e of men in their political conduct. Never
/, before, perhaps, was the welfare Of the natlor
d in more peril than 1t is now. Never before
S did the very integrity and perpetuatlon of ou
n institutions so directly or so critically depend
a on the choice of Federal executive, as now
e Let the people, therefore, act with correspond
e ing deliberation, earnestness, and independ
t encc, and all will be well.