Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-09-10
POLITICS IN MUNICIPAL HTAIRs, AID
TIE 1EPU1LICAN PARTY N THE STATE,

AAA~ ~&A ~0&<4NAN
Some Of our contemporaries and persons VIII
ting to them misconstrue what has been said by
the CoxHHacIAL in regard to the relationship
between party politics and municipal Affairs.
We hold, NOT that the two must be divorced, ab-
solutely, and At all times, but that citizens arc
1t liberty to pursue such course "a seems best 1t
the time, without offence to the party with
which, on State or National questions, they are
identified. Ie may be best for each party to
continue TO make municipal nominations, but IL
these nominations are not good ones, we insist
that the party label which they bear does not
bind all voters Of that party name. II the Re-
Publican voters of any Ward, deciding for them
selves, on the ground Of their own interests Is
citizens andtax-payers, judge that they arc like
ly to secure members Of Council more satisfsc-
tory and more acceptable. by an independent
nomination, they haye the right to try it, and
are not to be disciplined therefor. II is . mat
ter optional with them whether they shall make
party nominations or not
1t is natural to ask Why is not this rule,
which you spply to municipal and local affairs,
equally good Is to wider felds2 Why,if the cit
izen may thus act independently In the one case,
may he not do 10 likewise in State affairs /? The
answer to this is simple In the first place, no
voter is ever bound to vote against his con-
science il any candidate for any place, 1t any
time, is, in his Judgment, palpably and scanda-
lously unworthy Of his support, such support
cannot be asked upon any principle Of good gov.
eminent. But, where there il no such vital and
conclusive objection, the answer is that our poll
teal parties are organized on the basis OF tho
State there is Republican party Of Delaware,
which has its platform Of principles, up
on which it puts forth candidates for
the State Offices. When these candid
ates are named, they are entitled, in reason and
fairness, to the support Of all belonging to the
State party. II any Republican "cuts them,
he does 10 at his own cost, and upon his OWL
risk, and becomes bolter." The party al.
lows him no such liberty ~ in the local Affairs
for it is organized with reference to the State
and its platform and candidates relate precise.
ly and directly to the business Of providing
State government II any one within its ranks
therefore, chooses to step aside, in that business
he leaves his party, and becomes sometime
else than Republican. He may be justified il
his conscience - = citizen, or not, but he CEASE.
to be . party man.
In popular government, parties are found Il
be necessary. Good men are forced to organize
because bad men arc certain to do no. The com.
mon objects which are desired by any class can
be secured only BY associated effort In the sb-
ssnce Of any great questions Of principle, or wide
distinctions Of political belief it il still true that
better public officers will be secured when two or
more parties contend, though only for place.
Tho anxiety Of each to succeed, and its de-
sire to commend itself to the community makes
it nominate persons who possess the
public confidence and can therefore command
public support As the, time ia now rapidly 20.
ing BY in which great and vital questions are put
1t issue, by the peril Of great and vital principles
the division Of parties occurs on minor matters
Of administration, in which perhaps, there is no
more Of abstract principle on one side than on
the other, but even in.such case, when the CRY on
each ide, in contradistinction to the old pre-
cept Of principles. not Men, has almost exact
ly become "Men, not Principles" the party or
ganization will still serve the public good BY
providing honest and fit men for Office. In the
personal character Of its candidates there arc A.
ways involved the principles Of integrity and CO.
pAbility.
Discriminating, therefore, between matters
where Party considerations justly apply, and
those where they are optional, we encourage no
loose. thoughtless, or factious boiling from the
Republican organization. In Delaware,it prom
ises most and best for the people. Its defeat,
this year, would be new hindrance in the work
OF State improvement and development The
position it has taken on State questions merits
public support, and thus convinced, We hy the
hAg Of iA candidates sincerely, and look hope
fully forward to the election.