The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-06-25
The Independent Voter.

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Just now the independent voter excites much
attention, more perhaps than his numbers
deserve. Most men are by nature partisans,
and can work easier and better in trained Or
ganizations. The sense of companionshp
gives them strength. The sense of isolation
deprives them of courage. Commonly when
man declares himself independent he hastens
to gather about him other men who also call
themselves indepenpent. These men meet in
convention or conclave, put forth plan of Or
ganization and declaration of principles.
and become party. Very likely they call
themselves the Independent party. But the
name in itself signifies no more than Demo-
cratic or Republican. They are merely in
dependent of other parties as other parties
are independent of them. In time if the new
party has vitality we begin to associate GER
tain principles with its name, and Indepen-
dent comes to mean a revenue reformer, or
civil service reformer, or an anti-monopolist,
or hard money advocate, as the case may
be. The new party works through caucuses
and conventions, holds out inducements of
official patronage, attempts and perhaps
achieves success by the ordinary political
means.
There are few men who are really inde-
pendent, who are incapacitated by tempera-
ment from partisanship, who are averse to
organized effort, who never work with their
fellows in political, or charitable, or relig-
ious associations. In politics they vote some
times with that party which, for the time be-
ing approaches nearest to their individual
views, sometimes they do not vote at all.
Most Of them are lowered with the fatal
gift of many-sidedness, with the power of
seeing al sides of a question, and with
consequent indecision and hesitation in ac-
tion. In few this hesitation is carried to a
deplorable extreme, and they are like the ass
of Aristophanes, always hesitating between
the two bundles of hay. These Independents
are nothing new in American politics. They
have existed from the beginning of govern
ment; but only Oh rare occasions, when
some sharply defined issue between right and
wrong has presented itself, do they make
their appearance in public affairs, then
only momentarily. They are few in num-
bers and exercise no appreciable influence
in ordinary political contests.
But there are very large class of men, ha-
bituated to act with political organizations,
believing in the necessity of cooperative eff
fort, who are undecided as to their future po-
litical course. Upon their action depends
the issue of the next presidential campaign.
We may call them for want of better name,
the thoughtful voters. Heretofore they have
acted with the Republican party and have
given to it its majority. On the question of
slavery they were at one with it, though some
of them took issue with its methods. When
the rebellion broke out they instinctively raj
lied to the support Of the govern ment, and
enlisted in the Republican party for the war,
believing that the success of that organiza-
ton would ensure the preservation of the
union. During the fight, and after, they did
not stop to reason much. The union was
assaied and they instinctively rushed to its
defence.
The fervor of that time has died out with
the occasion for it. The safety of the union
is no longer in question. In its place have
risen questions of administrative policy, of
the limits OF national authority, of currency
and taxation. Some of the leaders of the Re-
publican party who pushed themselves to the
| front at time when zeal for the common
cause was held to be an excuse for many de-
| ficiencies, have abused the unbounded conf
dence reposed in them by the people. Ex-
cess of power has begotten abuse of power,
and as the excitement has died away, caution
has taken the place of zeal in the mind of the
thoughtful voter, and he has cried halt,
while he surveys the field.
The Republican party has taken heed of
that cry. 1t has retired its unworthy Off
GERS whenever opportunity has offered. 1t
has ferreted out and rebuked corruption. 1t
| has undertaken great administrative re-
forms. Now, purged of its sins, it comes be-
| fore the people, and asks for renewed vote
of confidence. 1t does not seek to make a
| fight on dead issues. If it refers to the past
| it is in a spirit of pardonable pride, and as a
proof of previous good character. 1t plants
| itself squarely upon the questions of the day,
and boldly challenges comparison with its
opponents. If there be any ancient timber
| in its platforms we must remember that some
issues are never old, that the fight between
right and wrong is waged as sharply now as
in the beginning of time. The party appeals
with confidence to the thoughtful voters of
| the nation. 1t asks them to contrast the plat
forms, the purposes, the tendencies, the his
tory and the capabilities of the two parties,
and then make their choice. As to the re-
suit of that choice it entertains no fears, be-
lieving that it is right, and that the people
are with it.