New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-24
PARTY NOMINATIONS.

IAh11 NNmANxaA4tNss
Isis frequently said that party politics ought
mot to be introduced into municipal affairs. Per-
haps this is truejust as true as that there ought
to be no party politics. If there were no differ
ence Of opinion we should have no parties; and if
we had no parties we should have no conventions,
no nominations; nothing bu. general helter-
SHELTER of voting on election day, in which the best
man might come out first, or come out last,
as chance might dictate. The proposition un-
doubtedyi is true that mans efficiency as mayor
Or as an alderman, or as sheriff. does not depend
On Ills political opinions. But on the other hand it
may be asked, is the efficiency Of public officers
lessened By consequence of their being nominated
ana elected by means Of party organizations
i There certainly must be some adequate explana-
lion ef tho conspicuous fact that in every city.
town and village in the country, party lines are
inst as strictly drawn with reference to the local
offices, as with regard to State and Federal Offices
People will candidly say that politics really have
nothing to do with these local affairs but after
Al, on election day, they 90 to the polls and vote
their party ticket. Why's Because the DISPENSE
lion Of patronage, whether Federal State or local
always involves the exercise Of some degree Of
power end influence. Through the exercise OF
that power and influence party politics connect
themselves with local elections just as inseparably
Is with elections Of a more general character.
The party which gains possession of the Offices 81
the places Of honor, or trust Or emolument, can
reward its friends and proportonally weaken its
adversaries Just as long therefore, it is TO the
interest Of parties to struggle for these Offices the
contest will go on, let people discourse as they
will Of the evils of the system.
But after all, is the system justly liable TO con-
demnation SO sweeping Isit true that under the
plan of volunteer candidacy better otlcers on the
average, win be secured than under the plan OF
party nominations This is a question which de-
serves to be considered In answering it We
should be guided by the indisputable principle
that the greater the completely Of the problem to
be solved the greater the difficulty in arriving at
an accurate solution. Now it may be taken for
granted that the problem before US is more com
plex when there are many candidates than when
there are few candidates; and when the motives
and influences operating on the voters mind vary
with each Individual, than when the controlling
motives and Influences are simply those which di-
vide two great parties from each other. 1t is all
very well to say that we should choose the best
man; hut who is the best man Everybody,
under the voluntary system, will answer that ques-
ton for himself, one being guided by moral con
siderations, another by mental qualifications, and
still another by personal attachment? In this
way the support of the honest and sincere suffra.
gans would be divided among number Of candi
dates, and it might often happen that the very
worst man he who would work the hardest and
make use Of the most disreputabIe agencies
would receive the plurality Of votes. To certain
extent this danger is obviated by party nomina,
lions. A party is responsible for the character Of
its nominees. It must select men at least respect
able in character or it runs the risk of defeat. II
is its interest to make good nominations, because
good nominations increase its chances Of success
The same argument, Of course, applies to one
party as well as another-to the party in power 81
well as the party out Of power. In the system Of
party nominations, there is at least some RESPONSE
bility. In the voluntary system there is none
whatever.
It may happen, and it often does happen, that
parties make bad nominations; but every such
error diminishes its strength, and persistence in
such course finally leads to defeat. 1t is by nc
means certain that, if this system were to be
abandoned, we should have any improvement il
our municipal administration. What is necessary
in any event. is that all citizens take an interest
the elections the primary stages Of organiza
ton, as well as in the final voting on election day
Let everybody, especially every member Of the Ma
tional Democratic party, endeavor to do his hes
to seure good ticket, and then determine to ad
here scrupulously aud religously to his part,
nominations. 3s s il3b& YR H&@