Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-05-04

The Law of PARTY Fea

# II
Partisanship is as, -much.a diity -
triotism. The ides fhas, the 8zszzepa
voterrcthHS q ..s.aS tho supports. =
I;t;c.I de i0o-Is nr;ae;nIss Tesi -
cally, and discharges his duties as citizen
most worthily, is a mistake and delusion.
Every citizen, of course, has an unques-
toned right to vote for the candidate of
his choice No one will dispute this, and
if he places himself on this independent
ground, his action is consistent, even if it
be not wise.
But as parties are absolutely necessary
in order to give effect to principles-as it
is only by combination of numbers and
unity of action that desired political ends
are reached, it follows logically that the
man who is not a member of a party,
merely wastes his political power and neg
lects the only means by yiich he can give
power and potency to his s5onvictions.
No party will refecs completely the
opinions or follow closely the policy of any
one man. Its membership agreeing upon
the most pressing and vital issues will dis
agree on many minor matters. We give
voice TO a portion of our convictions and
the remainder of them are not surrendered,
but held in abeyance. \ man attaches
himself to a political party because he
believes that it is for the interest of the
country. and consequently for his own in
terest, that the principles enunciated by
that party. and the policy prescribed by it,
shall be the guiding principles and the
ruling policy of the government. Every
impulse of patriotism, every impulse of
duty, every feeling of enlightened self
interest impels him to sustain the organi-
zation of that party-tO impart to 1t all
possible efficiency and vigor. Fidelity to
principles necessarily implies fidelity to
the means by which those principles may
become operative.
But no party can avoid mistakes IN its
action, any more than man can always
avoid mistakes in his private business
The candidates will not always be wisely
selected. Admit, now, that here are two
tickets. One is made up of men of your
own political faith, and is supported by
the party to which you are ohed. The
Stls,r S9,n'ar represeltsla pOlcK =, llash ycs are
you have always been and are now politi-
cally anuagonistic.
But one of the candidates on your own
ticket you do not esteem to be as well
qualified as his opponent. Now, what
will you do? You perceive here a divided
duty. VIII you squarely sustain your own
ticket, or for the sake of electing one man
on the other side, will you weaken the eff
cheney of your own party, and impair the
vigor of that organization in which alone
your principles find advocates
The " bOlter " always makes the mis-
take of sacrificing the greater good for the
benefit of the less. Principles are made
effective only through the agency of par
ties; parties are made effective only by
fidelity to their nominations, and until a
party becomes recreaut to its trust, IN
faithful to its principles, unworthy of con-
fidenee-until in fact it deserves to die, it
should receive the steady and unfaltering
support of those of whose principles it is
the exponent.
To bolt nomination, while still expect
ing to support the party, is as suicidal and
/ foolish as 1t would be to cut off your head
for the sake of curing pimple on your
nose.-La Crosse Leader.