Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-08-05
PARTY ETTQUETTE-SOME-
BODY MISTAKEN.


by the rule on that subject.
PARTY ETTQUETTE--SOME-
BODY MISTAKEN.
We annually hear Democrats of gen
eral intelligence, and for whose judge
ment in many things we have great
respect, in private and public places
denounce and rail out against some Of
our nominees. Some are even so en-.
thusiastic and become 30 excited over
the subject that denunciation and rail
cry does not seem sufficient; but they
squarely assert that which is often not
true. And in nine and a half cases out
of every ten, investigation into the
cause for such moral and political out
lawry develops the fact that misun-
derstanding in an ordinary business
transaction or some family emelae is at
the bottom ofthisexpressed opposition.
To our mind such things are unbecom-
ing in Democrats. We know no law,
or rule in morals, business, social or
political economy, whereby to justify
such conduct. Our education, whether
right or wrong, is precisely the reverse.
II, sin the course of human events" "
we happen to have misunderstanding
with a neighbor in business transac-
ton, or, because our families refuse to
associate, etc, we are not justified in
opposing publicly, the neighbor in ques-
ton, should he afterwards become the
nominee of our party for an Office, al
though we despise him socially and
even refuse to transact business with
him.
Whenever our personal enemy be-
comes the nominee of our party, party
discipline and that courtesy due from
gentleman to his party demand us
to close our mouth, especially in the
presence ofthe common enemy. 1fun-
fortunately for us perhaps, our personal
enemy becomes the choice of a MAORI
ty of our party friends for an office, a
decent respect for the rights of Others,
and party success, requires that we
cease making war upon the party.
The lines drawn between business,
social, and political life are quite plain,
and are no more likely to be lost sight
of by intelligent men than the division
lines of farms, or lots, And the mo-
ment we pass them we become offend
ers and tresspassers.
To make our meaning as plain as
possible, we will illustrate Suppose
John Doe is neighbor Of ours, and
like ourself Democrat, and through
some misunderstanding in business, we
are foolish enough to quarrel and sep
arate, and continue bitter enemies. In
after years he becomes candidate for
sheriff or any other office. We no
doubt have the right to defeat him III
we can, provided, we advocate the
claims of better man, whom we call
Richard Roe. The acknowledged rights
Of freeman, and in our judgement the
interest of the party require us to press
the claims of Mr.. Roe. Not because we
hate Mr.. Doe, (this we should conceal
for decency's sake), but from the fact
that we want the best man TO fill the
Office. If however, majority of our
party friends believe Mr.. Doe the best
qualified, and nominate him for the
Office, love for the party and respect
for ourself demands that we 'dry up.
Now, (says Democrat at our elbow
with whom we have been debating
party etiquettc), your personal enc
my has been placed on the ticket by a
majority of our party friends. What
are you going to do? Vote for him,
or oppose bimH
Well, for the sake of the party we
will keep quiet and watch the course of
events. This much we will promise
now. We will not stand on the street
corners and other public places and
denounce him in the presence of our
common enemy, however privately,
with friends, we may traverse his char
actcr, especially with those who know
nothing about him, personally, 80 as to
put them on their guard. II, however,
as time progresses and the election ap-
proaches, we hear our nominee reviled,
and assailed to the extent that his cleo |
ton might be jeopardized, We will
march up to the polls and deposit our
vote for him for the sake of the party. |
II, on the other hand, we deem his
election foregone conclusion, we shall
not worry ourself about him, and when
we turn up at the polls We will, (if we
think of ~, just erase his name from
the ticket without saying anything
about IL.
This thing of dragging personal
matters into political canvass has al
ways been very offensive to us, from
the fact that we consider il an evil lit
Tie short of lying and cheating, espcci-
ally if carried on after candidate has
been placed on the ticket. And to |
our mind, the individual is overwhelmed |
with sclfshness and shows very little |
respect for his party, who is constantly |
retailing his business, social, or family |
quarrels before miscellaneous crowd.
Besides, his good breeding and party
fcalty always suffer more or less on
such occasions. Newspaper editors,
above oil other men, are constantly an
noyed with this piece Of political eti-
quette, and il seems TO be no nearer
being settled today than II was half a
century ago. We solicit criticism on
this point, from our readers. Those
who believe our views incorrect, let
them SO ipf6rm us and point out the
error, and ifproven wrong we viii re-