Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-09-16
POLITICAL.


called convention to be held in this city
on the 9th of October next There are TO
I've i've nominations. The representatives
Of the people will be charged with the
duty Of naming three candidates for the
Legislature, one tor County Treasurer, and
one for Court Commissioner. The First
District will select candidate for men,
her Of the County Board.
1t is always important that local offices
lie filed by men who have the requisite
ability and who inspire general confidence
in their integrity, hence the people should
be careful in selecting, and especially, for
the office Of County Treasurer. 1t is neith-
or our business nor our purpose to name
candidates for Offices. That is the special
prcroga,ivc Of the 70 ters, through their
chosen Representatives, ght which
they should guard with jealous care for
it is one of the fibrcs from which the fab.
rio Of human liberty is woven, and a re-
publican government would be but loath-
rome form if denudcd of the principles
and privileges upon the unrestrained en-
ploymcnt of which depend the liberty, the
happiness and the prosperity of Il nation.
The efforts Of designing men,-tho E VIII,
make politics busincss,to gain complete
control Of all the primary agencies, and
to dictate the manner of their use, have
most vitlatinG tendency. which should be
obviated at all hazards. The man who
i. entitled to vote at all may vote for
whom he plcascs. Unrestrained liberty of
choice is the fundamental idea Of the bal
lot and that idea Ill ust be recognized and
inculcatcd if VIC would preserve the free
dom Of our institutions and perpetuatc
the liberties Ofthe citizen. ltfollows then
that candidates to be acceptable must be-
,n,e such Ky THE EXPRESSED WILL OF A
MAJORITY OF THE PARTY. Otherwise if
supported ut all, il is done through fcalty
to the organization, and out of regard for
the principles which it processes, but docs
not illustrate. The modern management
of county politics tends toward centraliza.
ton. 1t rclcgatcs the selection Of candid
atcs to the few who want the offices, and
thus each party makes its nominations.
On election day, the voters support the
one ticket or the othcr,-not because it
embodies or signifies their preferences,
but for the sole reason that it represents,
nominally, a choice between the contend.
ing party organizations. Can good gov.
eminent result from such action? Arc
officers thus chooses likely to be honest, OF
efficient: Do they regard the public inter:
ests a. of greater consequence than their
own, and their obligations TO their con
stituents as paramount, to be discharged
faithfully at whatever Inconvenience to
themselves. or dctrimcnt to their own af
fairs! Not at all. If such men have any
distinguishing characteristic whatever, j
is that they grow rich as long as they con
:inuc in office. II these things are NO
desirable; it they tend to disgrace public
positions and 10 corrupt public morals
il they result in inefficlcncy, and loss, ant
crinie, is it wise to perpetuatc them
There can be but n single answer to thes
queries. The popular conviction, if OK
pressed is,-no! Then, We ask Of the pee
ple,why neglect any longer to do your du
tyi in the primary meetings? You hav
given your consent to the establishment
of a representative OF government. Yo
have elected to express at the caucus you
choice Of men for official position. viii
you 60 to the caucus,-thc only plac
where you have complete liberty Of choice
and there assert tho right Of citizenship
If each voter will do this conscientious
there will DC an end to rings. The bes
men will be chosen to of6cc-:hc countr
10 relieved from the disgrace of defalc:
lions, and bad men will be taught the va
ne Of justice and integrity IN the perform
ance OF public duties. Go to the caucus