The Portland daily press., 1870-08-08
Party Morality.

E0fty N1Of0IiIys
Goodwin Smith, in his recent article in Put-
mans Magazine on the Constitutional Cr'S'S
in England, complains that, everywhere you
have party morality and party allegiance
conflicting with the claims of humanity and
the nation.n However this may be in partic-
ular cases, it cannot be regarded as conclu-
siye argument against party organizations,
until something can be devised to take their
place, 1t may, we believe, be shown that a
party as such has certain legitimate claims
upon its members, and it is as important mat
ter for every voter to know the proper extent
OF these claims. Within their proper limit
obligations to party are as binding as any du-
ty whatever. Parties are necessity in every
popular government where large masses must
in some way or other manage to act in con-
cert in order to achieve any result. Party Or
ganizations are the only means yet discovered
of securing unity of action in political affairs
and il is scarcely saying too much to affirm
that the government could not be carried on
without them. Suppose that, as some ideal
lists suggest, every voter should 60 into an
election and vote independently, not confer
ring with others and paying no attention 10
their views, how many elections would 1t take
to effect choice, particularly if the constltu-
ency was large, and no one man prominent
above all others? So evident is the necessity
for preliminary conference among voters in
order to secure any effective action, that it is
seldom dispensed with even in town elections.
Whatever combination is thus effected by
preliminary conference is to all intents and
purposes party. National organizations diff
fer from others in being larger and in genera
more permanent. As regards the adoption o
principles and measures, as well as the choice
of men, parties are indispensable to secure
unity of action. 1t is an idle dream to sup
pose we can ever get along without them un
til human beings are very greatly changed.
It is true there are incidental evils connect
ed with them. They are often corrupt, often
unjust, vindictive and tyrannical. But in
spite of all this, looking at them in all theil
aspects good and bad, it cannot be denied
that they are among the benefcent facts OF
our civilization, and that the commoton
arising from their mutual conflicts is pow
erful agency in purifying the political atmos-
phere.
AS parties therefore have legitimate ori
gin and work they have certain claims to the
allegiance and support of those who habitually
participate in the association, have a voice ir
directing its policy, and share in the power i
wields. Not that this allegiance is unlimited
A man may of course transfer his allegiance
to another party for sufficient reasons o
which he is himself to judge, responsible only
to public opinion. But no man who pretend
to act with party can be justified in boltins
because in some particular matter his individ
ual views and preferences are not yielded tt
by his associates. 1t may be his duty tt
yield even when he regards the adoption O
his views essential to the public interests. Not
being infallible he is bound to pay that amount
of Difference to the views of his associates
1t is only on this basis of mutual confidence
in, and Difference to each other on the part OF
individuals that parties can exist at ALL No
man can enjoy the benefit of association with
others unless he is willing to pay for it by
surrendering something of his individuality.
When party becomes so hopelessly corrupt
that this confidence cannot subsist, and there
is no prospect of reforming it, or if corrupt
man is nominated or unfair means used, then,
and not till then does it become the duty Of
the voter to abandon it either temborarily or
permanently, and to join in some association
composed of better elements, and animated
by better purposes. But candidate whom
honest and judicious men may believe fitted
for his place, if nominated by fair means, is
entitled to the support of the party, and those
who bolt under such circumstances need not
complain if they in turn find themselves left
out in the cold.
These principles have an application in our
local politics. The idea has been advanced
that the Republican party in this District
have no right to renominate candidate as
many times as they choose. The arguments
in favor of this view were listened to and
weighed, Notwithstanding come hasty and in
judicious remarks on both sides at the Con-
vent:on and since. The majority of the dele
gates were not convinced and voted accord
ingly. We insist that under the circumstances
there is no sufficient reason for not voting the
regular ticket. Any other course is disloyalty
to the party. The Republican party expects
every man to do his duty"