The Cecil Whig., 1875-11-20
INDEPENDENCE IN POLITICS.

The din of the late contest having, in a
measure subsidized, and the smoke of the
battle having cleared away, we can now
calmly consider the results and dispassion-
ately examine the causes which made them
possible. Thus considering and examin-
ing those causes and results, nothing i'm
presses itself more forcibly upon the atten-
tion than the presence everywhere of that
freedom of thought and action which was
one of the main objects for which our an
cestors fought, and which remains the only
sure hope of the Republic. That independ-
ence has shown itself, in the late elections,
to be above any mere considerations of
party, and quite capable of taking care of
itself in contest where National and State
honor and purity are at stake.
The line of action which the "Independ-
ent Voter" so-called, has marked out for
himself is, in every respect, perplexing to
the average politician. This last-named
individual is utterly unable to comprehend
Democrat and yet not vote the full
ticket He looks upon scratching" with
positive and evident disgust, and holds up
his hand, when the thought is suggested,
with as much of horror as did Pope Leo
and his emissaries at the sight of Martin
Luther. He is on all occasions thick and
thin partizan, and labors most persistingly
for ''the good of the party He knows,
in fact, nothing but party. 1ndolent and
worthless at all other times, when election
day arrives he exhibits the most untiring
industry. This parsonage is found in every
community. Walk to the voting place on
end of November, and here he stands
there lie runs. Now forcing ticket into
self, is son the make,'' now throwing his
arm lovingly around that kindred loafer.
He never approaches decent man. AS
the day progresses, and the time for "count-
ing out - and "in ~ draws near he AFRO
gates to himself the airs of a leader and
INDUCES in the most absurd and unreasona-
BILE prophesying as to the result. He is in
seventh heaven when he can induce two
or three persons to give ear to his nonsense.
At such times, with his thumbs at his arm
pits, he strikes an attitude, and, with sly
wink at his neighbor, confidently remarks:
"We've got 'em.'' 81 tell you, gentle
men, We'll carry this county by 500, and
the State by 25,000.'' He is nothing if not
exaggeration, and is, in all respects, the
antipodes of decency and fair dealing. To
such a being, therefore, the actions of the
Independent Voter" are totally incom-
prehenslble. He looks to principle not to
plunder, and strives to make party name
subserve an honest purpose. lie battles
for sentiment which recommends itself to
every thinking man, and which alone can
give practical effect to the central idea of
our constitution. He is, first and all the
time, opposed to that milk -and-water con-
servatism which sees nothing but unmiti-
gated evil in all attempts at innovation, and
which meets every progressive movement
with the cry" let we'll enough alone.'
Nor is he yet radical. He spurns the level
ing tendencies of the age. He gives no ear
to the cOmmunistic demands of labor. He
beholds the downfall of free institutions in
that agrarianism which has once or twice
in the worlds history risen triumphant and
run wild "amid the ruin it has made.'
Neritable iconoclasm. that pulls down and
never rebuilds, and that leaves us, as exam
pies of its desperate inspiration, the smoul-
dering ruins of Tuilleries, and the unsightly
stumps of Vendome Columns. He is rea-
soning man and represents, in very truth,
independence controlled by sound judgment.
The late elections, we are glad to notice,
show his kind to be on the increase. We
rejoice at the appearance all over the land
of this individuality, this independence in
politics. And yet we are not one of those
who cherish the hope or believe in the pos
sibility of such a condition OF affairs as
that parties can entirely be done away with,
and independence alone have sway. By
the character of our constitution and form
of government, parties have been and al
and desirable necessity. No formulated
set of opinions ever can be promulgated
which will receive the sanction of all men,
and which will not find enemies to cope
with, and opposition to conquer or be con-
Guered by. Hence arises the necessity for
organizations. Independence, however, in
dependent of an immense amount of the
clap-trap which has been written about it,
can accomplish great and beneficial work.
Bound by no absolute fealty to party, yet
tba af ;o;o
and workings; trammeled by no entangling
alliances with political bodies, yet consider
ing their claims when they present opin-
ions and persons worthy of commendation
and support, it can teach men to study the
welfare of the many, and cast down and
trample under foot the ignoble aspirations
of the few.
Such is the position which independence
is to assume in the political arena, and such
the part which it is to take in the struggle
for good government and the extension of
honorable principles. 1t is to oppose the
trlckery of parties, and fight to the bitter
end the corrupting and corroding influences
which have been stealing abroad. 1t is to
sustain to the political temple the same rela-
tion that the boy Eon, as related in the old
Grecian play, did to the Delphic temple
the protector Of the sacred place, and the
defender of its affairs from the filth and pol
luton of unclean birds.
eB Mr.. S. Teackle Wallis returned to
his home in Baltimore, from New York,
on Saturday last, much improved in health,
though great care will yet be necessary, in
order to fully restore his throat to sound
ness. Since his return some of the gentle
men who have been active in the Reform
movement have consulted with him upon
the course to be pursued in regard to the
frauds by which the expression of the will
of the people was reversed. No doubt is
entertained but that sufficient proofs of
the fraudulent character of the election
can be submitted to cause the returns from