The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-12-22
THE THEORY OF POLITICAL
AVAILABILITY

Every citizen will concede that all
offices in the gift of the people should
be administered by efficient and compe-
tent men. The necessary formation of
parties, arising from the conflicting views
of public policy that are entertained, has
imposed another qualifcatioa upon a
majority of candidates. 1t is considered
to be essential to the general welfare
that persons maintaining the same lead
ing principles of. government should en-
act the laws. AS it is impossible for a
large number of voters to cast their bal
lots for the same representatives without
previous consultation, caucuses and con-
ventions of partizans have become the
real battle fields, and the elections held
in pursuance of law mercy ratify their
action. Many criticisms have been un-
justly made upon this system by which
the nomination has become the desirable
object to be secured. 1t is asserted by
certain writer's that all corrupt and in
efficient officeholders owe their positions
to the evil results of primary meetings.
! We contend that all cases of this char
acter occur in consequence of the negli-
gence of the electors to perform their
duties and attend every assembly that is
convened for the purpose of nominating
candidates for the sufrages of the COM
munity If few men execute the tasks
which should be fulfilled by thousands,
the public interests may be injured by
aspiring and successful demagogues who
can rally personal friends and c9ntrol a
caucus that is composed of small num-
Der of the citizens of the district. The
proper course that should be taken to
remedy such illtimed effects can be sug-
gested at once. Instead IF talking about
the " filthy pool of politics" and declin,
ing to bathe in its turbid waters, it is the
patriotic duty of every resident in de.
mocracy to exercise untiring industry
and continual vigilance to purify the del
eterious springs and promote the health
of the body polite by removing the
causes of malaria and destruction. Itii
, a singular fact that weak and unfit mel
usually acquire posts of honor and emol
, ument, not because parties of ability can
not be found, but because there are tot
many candidates of unquestioned talent
t In many conventions, the selection be
tween the claims of the great has beer
: SO difficult that the choice has fallen ul
, timately upon an unknown, but avaiia
BILE citizen. He has said nothing, dom
' nothing, and in word, is good for moth
, ing, but the pertinacity of his support
ers has enabled him to receive the re
t wards that belonged to them. A thou
1 sand instances might be cited by tn
: reader to establish the fact The mind
!. that have conceived, and the hands tina
= = have toiled to accomplish grand undel
r takings for the advancement of human
ity, seldom reap the popular harvest. !
v follower who has never attracted the M
d tice of the enemy on account of his ol
g g security, and against whom no arrow
e political malice has been aimed, ca
o gather every vote, and availability TT
o umphs over meritorious services an
: craftsmanship. Let the members OF
= organizations concentrate their efforts
is favor of the best man, personal antip
y thies will be balanced, and the peop
will gain wise rulers.