Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1873-12-26
POPULAR INTEREST IN roL1TIcs.

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POPULAR INTEREST IN P0LTTICS
1t cannot be denied that there Is q
growing feeling among the people In
favor Of repudlating the dictatlon OF
partisan leaders, and assuming q pow
or Of selection as regards public off,
GERS, which Of right belongs to them,
but which. during the past few years,
the majority Of electors have failed to
exercise. 1t Is also true that q large
portion Of our electors have come TO
perceive that their neglect Of a plain
duty-that Of personal choice Of NOM
inees, and personal control OF the par
ties with which they atlliate-has re-
suited In the selection and election OF
unworthy and dishonest officials. All
thinking men admit that 1t is the duty
Of every voter to Interest himself In
politics. We do not mean by this that
It IL every mans duty to become a can
didate, nor do we claim that every
elector should make the study Of poll
tics a speciality, farther than to &C
quaint himself with the needs and de-
mands Of his city or locality, and
study the best meal Of obtaining pro-
lection or relief. But 1t Is the duty Of
every citizen to interest himself In
politics to the extent Of judging. not
only what principles will most con-
duce to public good, but the best men
In whom to confide the establishment
Of those principles In Legislative enact
ments, as also those who will most
nearly conform to and aid In their ex-
ecution. It Is not solely the fault Of
professional politicians, treacherous
and dishonest though they be, that
corrupt men obtain office, and
employ the places thus obtained to fur.
Their personal ends, aud work Injustice
aud injury upon the masses. The pub
lie are even more at fault than the pol
iticians. They are far more RESPONSE
BILE than parties or partisan autocrats
and demagogues. To the supineness
and Indifference Of electors may be d.
rectly traced In every case the election
OF incompetents or knaves. Freedom
of choice In the selection Of our rulers
IL the bulwark Of personal security and
freedom. It Is a cheering fact that
everywhere we find a growing public
interest In politics, a realization that
il good government Is to be had In a
republic. It depends entirely on the
governed to ecure Its blessings. Par
ties are OF little value a v as they
serve to ~condense, combine. and car.
~ out the wishes Of the people.
They are merely crystalllzations OF
popular desire; combined union
to secure certain ends. Under
u system Of selfgovernment, they
are as essential as Its constitution and
laws, the natural product Of the free
dom Of choice guaranteed By our Fed
crate Union. The only marvel Is, that
instead OF two or three or more great
national parties there are not a hum
dred. Tho wonder Is that u ten
millions of electors have been and are
so equally divided, and so solidly
united into but two party organiza-
lions. We hold that under our system
of government every a Is entitled
to form q party for himself. Nay,
more ; we claim that 1t Is his duty to
~proselyre, to make converts to his
creed. Thus only will public wants
and needs become discussed, and meas
ures for the public good be originated
and carried out. But while it Is the
right OF every man to form a party, 1t
Is not always best. And just here
comes in the question Of policy.
Assuming, for instance, that two Elk
istiug organizations have each failed
to meet the just claims Of the people,
many say at once, let us form a new
one which will" This Is doubtless
their prerogative, but Is 1t always wise?
In other words, Is It better to split up
the organizations already In existence.
and from their elements consolidate
anow, or, adhering thereto. fulfill our
duties as citizens by attending to the
nomination Of good men and the Sc.
lection and enforcement Of just mea-
sures. All persons will admit that 1t
Is within the power Of Republicans to
select good nominees next Autumn. 1t
Is just as easy to do this as to form 4
new party to that end. And such Is
also the case with Democrats. No
power, save that Of the people. can
either nominate or elect bad men.
And, as we have said, in the supineness
of electors Is eve found the origin OF
bad rulers and poor government.