Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-06-08
THE COUNTY CONVENTION.

lOclE GILL ZOE luc uOlliiusSs "a inviting "
elect delegates to the First District Con-
vention which will he held at Owatonna
ON the 18th Of July next, to nominate a
candidate for Congress. We have fire.
quently shown tue importance Of these
primary meetings. Before the opening Of
the recent spring, every farmer Was anx-
iously looking for good sccd,-each one
wanted something that should not only
germinate but grow and mature, that
should produce sound healthy grain. Pre-
viously to setting out in orchard, the man
who wishes to raise fruit, reads and in
uuircs and examines until he becomes ac-
quaintcd with all the different varieties,
and then selects only such trees as give
evidence of being able to Withstand the
rigors of the climate, and to yield an
abundant return for what they cost. If 81
man wnnld seek a new location he con
suits the maps of the different States: cx-
anines the statistics of production and
sale, compares the mortuary lists of veri-
Gus localities, ascertains the relative rates
Of taxation aud public indebtedness, ascer-
tains the facilities for market and trans
portation, and finally makes his selection
with reference to all those conditions
which are likely to effect him most favor
ably in the particular pursuit in which he
may engage; and thus 1t is in all depart
ments of business. Every judicious man
antedates each decisive movement by some
preliminary investigation which serves as
. key to unlock the whole subject and to
familiarlzc him with 1t. Politics is some
thing in which every man has an interest.
Some may deny this, but it is true never
theless. This is a~govcrnmcnt Of the PEG
pie, and no man can shirk the responsible
ity of citizenship by neglecting to perform
the duties which it enjoins; nor is it
enough that he goes regularly to the polls
and votes. By doing only that, he may
1nd himself situated similarly to the man
who sowed poor seed which sproutcd and
produced plant that grew for short
time and then died ; or to the one who trans
planted worthless trees, or the one who
bought farm upon which, unknown to
him, there was a heavy encumbcance,-
he may have presented for his support a
man whom he knows to be wholly un-
worthy of his confidence or of his vote.
A great deal has been said lately about
the so-called "Independent voter" Our
experience with this non.descript, leads
10 10 say that as rule he belongs to the
class of men who assert that they have no
interest in politics, and who do not at
tend the primary meetings ofcither party.
Not having share in the work, they are
not satisfied with its results, Oh the same
principle adopted by the man who could
zee no good in anything which was not
the product either Of his own genius or
his labor. Only very few men will be
satisfied with anything of public nature
unless they have in some way been instru-
mental In Its production, or establishment,
hence it follows that all who entertain
similar views upon questions of govern.
mental policy should affiliate in those pre-.
liminary movements through the agency
Of which nominations for public offices
are made. The question of candidacy
for Office should be so thoroughly discuss
ed and so fairly and positively decided in
convention as to admit of no doubt as to
the candidates receiving the undivided
support Of the party. We believe that it is
not only possible to achieve such result
but that it Is an absolute duty to do it. II
view Of all this therefore, we again express,
the hope that every Republican, and ev
cry other man who believes in the prin
ciples and the policy enunciatcd in Re
publican platforms, will go to the caucus
- soon to be held in this County, and tax,
such action as will best express his wish
es concerning candidate for Congress
lt0m this District. In this centennia
yesr,-it we have not done it before,
viii be we'll for each voter to ascertain th'
rotation which he sustains to the govern
Dent that protects him. If he reaches
Z eonclusion upon this point, he will hav'
no doubt - to his duty to attend primar,
neetiDgs.