Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-11-20
Supporting the Party.

Now that the Republican party enters
upon a new epoch, it is we'll to understand
distinctly what is meant by supporting the
party. Mr.. Conkling in his Brooklyn
speech said: "What is the sense of belong
ing to a party a little, belonging to it off
and on? If it is not fit to belong to, no
one should belong to 1t at all. If 1t is fit
if, despite the unworthy members and
flaws and short co mings which inhere in
all human associations, It is the better of
two parties-then why not go for it and go
with it and make the best Of itr" And Mr..
Dawes, in Massachusetts, went into But
ler's district and urged his election, not
that he approved his conduct or his opin-
ions upon many important subjects, but
that the party line Of the Massachusetts
representation in Congress might be un-
broken. Are these gentlemen aware that
this policy is just what has defeated the
partyP If stan ding by the party means
standing by the unworthy members and
flaws and short-comings-if going for it
and going with 1t and making the best Of
it means going for the salary grab, and the
moeties, and Sanborn, Jayne Co., and
Governor Shepherd and Judge Durell, and
Buffers tactics and morslities, and nomin-
atoms like those of Mr.. Charles S. Spencer
and Mr.. Bernard Biglin and Mr.. James
O'Brien-how can any self-respecting man
come to any other conclusion than that
such party, in Senator Conkling's phrase,
is not fit to belong tor
1t is the men who belong to party a lit
tie, and belong to it off and on, who make
it successful, because they Insist upon
good men and good measures. 1t Is those
who Ego for it" always and under all cir
cumstances who defeat 1t, because, as Mr..
John Cochrane said, they support the devil
if he is only regularly nominated. These
are the people upon whom knaves count to
secure their schemes. The argument urg-
ed by Mr.. Dawes in support OF Butler was
used two years ago in South Carolina for
the support of Moses. II ends in electing
rascals to give us honest government. Mr..
Dawes said that he differed with Butler up
on many questions. But they are funda-
mental questions. What thee, even from
his own point of view, was to be gained by
sending an unbroken Republican Massa-
chusetts line to Congress If 1t was to bt
broken the moment 1t arrlved'
With the present machinery of both par
ties, TO insist upon sustaining the party,
which means merely the regularly nomin'
ated candidates and the declarations of reg
ular conventions, is to insist upon surren'
dering the government to a clique Of In
triguers and traders. Every Democrat
who supports tho regular city ticket in New
York knows that he is voting only as Mr.
John Kelley and Mr.. John Morrissey
choose; but he goes for 1t, Mr.. Jimmy
Hayes and all, because, in Senator Conk
lings phrase, he thinks 1t the better of the
two parties. Now the way to sustain anC
strengthen and perpetuate great party il
to oppose and scratch and defeat all Its un
worthy candidates. And whyf Becaus
if it is found that Regularity" and 9TH
party can not put bad man through, on
ly good men will be nominated. For wha
is partyP 1t is means, not master
1t is a convenience which patriotic mel
use to serve the public welfare. But sucl
men know that the public welfare can no
be served by dishonest and incompeten
men, whatever they call themselves, AnC
therefore it is no argument to tell then
that ii one of the rascals Is not elected, thu
other will be. There Is no choice between
rascals. To belong TO a party is not to &C
cept and defend every thing that may b.
done in its name, and TO support all candi
dates who may contrive to secure Its nom
ination 1t is to support Its measures ant
its men when, and when only they ar
worthy OF support.-HdTpe''s Weekly.