Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1876-04-27

tuition, there has not been a Preslden
fial campaign in which so large pro
portion of the voters of the country
: occupied an entirely independent a.
titude in relation to parties as will be
the case in the one about to open,
There have been third parties ane
third tickets at many previous Presi.
dental elections, but we have in the
country to-day . large class ofvoters
recognized but unorganized force in
politics which is not q third party
but is vastly more Influential than
any third party could be; and any
attempt to solve the Presidential
problem without estimating this inn
portant factor will be futile. These
voters have acted heretofore, some
with the Republican, some with the
Democratic party, and very large
number of them are men who threw
off the yoke of partisanship four
years ago, and were known us Lib
eral Republicans. OF those who Sc
ceded from the regular Republican
organization four years ago for what
they deemed sufficient reasons. few
have returned to the old party, dis
gusted with Dem acratic rule. Some
have been driven by the persistent
defense of maladministration on the
part of the Republicans to a perma-
nent union with the Democracy, and
considerable number, the largest
fraction. we think. have held them
selves aloof from both the great par
ties, despairing of reform ut the
hands of either, aad only hoping for
the growth and increase of an honest
aud clean public sentiment, which by
one or the other or both parties. or in
spite of them, shall lift the county
up. The number of these is larger
than four years age. They are
classed as ssdoubtfula voters by the
party canvassers. They read plat
forms impsrtia.ly; they compare the
professions Of Il party with its prac-
tice, judicially; they consider the
qualifications of candidates with care
and without partisanship. They have
witnessed Republican corruption and
Democratic trickery and ine9mpeten-
cy: they know the strength and the
weakness of each party, aud what Is
more, they know how an unofsanized
force like their own can influence
both for good
To organize this conservative force
in politics, with leaders and manag-
ers and convention calls, aad plat
forms and candidates, and all the
pacaphevnalia of political war, would
be not merely to diminish but to de-
stroy its influence aud its power.
Uuorranized and uneounted; recog-
n;zing no individual ambitions, and
no formulated creed, but only known
to the parry leaders on both sides as
the force tnat makes Tor political
Righteousness ss--a sentiment, If you
will. but IA moral sentiment, peyasiye,
powerful is and will be a cen-
Slant incentive 10 both parties to do
whatever will command its support
or at leas, divide It's strength. Tney
who talk about the Independent vote
of the country being unin luential
aud powerless because without lead
ership or creed, and because, as they
say. marty organization is essential to
political success. do not reason wise
IL. Let a convention be called to-
day for the nomination of an lnde-
pendent or Reform ticket and au or
.anixation of third party be effect
ed, aud the force of the movement Is
exhausted at once. II leaves the
managers of the two great parties to
their own devices: to make their
nominations with reference only 10
the use of the old party maehi cry
in securing votes; and thea, whel
one or the other has woa, We have
ths sans. bad system an! tae sane
corrunt administration, with only a
chanra Of the sign over the dooS-
The iadepeadent vote of the country
Is in no commercial sense in the
market but il is in tbs field; il rep
rssents sentiment and priaci-
ple. and is a power. II has no can
iidstes. is up Tor no trades, aud Of
fers no bargains; but it has st.ad-
ard of Qualification and fitness which
.it invites both parties to come up t..
In this sense il Offers Itself IL the
mos. deserving, This is is present
Juty. its present mission. Circun-
Stances may change, and the failure
az hath yarties ta come up To this
s,nl.rd ana meet the requirements
of i,,elli..aee ana honesty may call
for oth.r action. in the form OF or