The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-07-12
ABOUT CANDIDATES.

| aDVOA Si1NDlDh LO' ~
In the matter of making nomi-
nations for offices this year, the
republican party of Kansas owes
to itself and the state a duty of
surprising consequence. The pla-
ces to be filled are important ones,
and they should be filled with none
but first-class men. We have an
opportunity to send to congress
three of the best men 20 be found
in the state; and the opportunity
is one which ought not to be tri-
fed with. All other considerations
should give way to that of secur-
ing the most capable and worthy
candidates. The nomination of
three orthodox republicans will
not alone be enough; they should
also be men whose ability and in
tegrity will commend them to pop
ular confidence and support out
side of their soundness on partisan
issues. Three good men in the
lower house of congress can get
everything for Kansas that Kansas
wants; but three shysters and in
eompetents in that position will
only do US harm.
1t would be n sensible idea, we
think. for the conventions to give
the standing candidates for office
the cold shoulder this season. The
republican party of Kansas has
been carrying some men for many
years past whom it cannot afford
to lug any longer. They have had
theirsd day and played their parts.
They are useless to US, and they
smell bad. They ought to be put
under the ground early in the can
vass, and kept there. If we don't
bury them, the probability is that
the opposition will do it for us.
To prevent any such interference
in our family affairs, it will be we'll
for us to appoint the funeral our
selves and dispose of the corpses
at the outset ofthe campaign. We
have plenty of tip-top men to fill
all the offices, and they ought to
be brought forward. We need
their services, and we can get them
for the asking. When such men
are to be had for candidates, it is
not only foolish, but dangerous al
so, to take any other kind.
Let n new leaf be turned over in
the nominating business this year.
Let ability and character be
brought to the front, and placed in
posts of trust and honor; and let
the ''bummers," the leeches, and
dead-weights, be politely but plain
ly, informed that the party will eX-
cuse them from any further service
as standard bearers. Let the Sc
lections of candidates be made with
reference only to worth apd quail
fication. The matter of "claims''
should be left entirely out OF the
account. No man has any special
claims upon the party for favors.
Parties are not made and run for
the benefit of individuals, and in
dividuals have no right to use
item for purposes of personal pre-
ferment. The matter of locality,
too, is one of small Importance.
Our members of congress are to
be chosen for the whole state, and
will have to work together for the
whole state at Washington. 1t
will be better to have two good
men from a single locality, than
one good one and one poor one
from two different localities. We
want the best men without regard
to where they buy their groceries
or get their washing done. The
states having the strongest and
most useful and influential delega-
tions in congress pay no attention
to the matter of a mans residence
when looking for their representa-
tives. Both of the senators from
several of the states reside at the
same places; and in the older states
a single city or section of con-
gressional district frequently fur
nishes the member fer half a doz-
en- terms in succession. Fitness
for the place is the only test APP
piled there, and it is the only test
that should be applied in Kansas.
The mere fact that a man lives ar
Leavenworth, Lawrence or Fort
Scott, does not entitle him to any
consideration over a man who
| lives at Atchison, Topeka or EN-
poria. It is men, and not locali-
ties, that are nominated, and voted
| for. If a man be a citizen of Kan
sas, that is enough on the resi-
dence question, and his merits
should be weighed without any
further regard to the locality OF
his post-office,
/ Give us number one candidates
linen of conceded ability and un
| questioned integrity-and the re
publican majority in Kansas nexf
November will reach 10000. Civ
us ticket of hacks and frauds
and the prospect of our getting
any majority at all viii become ;
| somewhat questionable one.-Topc
kr Commonwealth.