Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-05-30
Men of Ability and Experience
Demanded.

Some Of our republican contemporaries are
urging the importance of the selection of the
best and most experienced men in the party foI
Congressional candidates in the pending elections
The souudness of this advice is so obvious that
any comment would seem sspeifuous. Such a
policy, if il can he called such, is supremely i'm
portant at the present time, simply because such
nominations would insure the election of iepubli-
cans in districts that would otherwise be likely to
fall into the hands of the enemy. There are hum
dreds of men who do not vote with the repsb-
lican party "otf years" because they do not find
sufficient iuducemeat in the make up of the party
ticket to lead them to vote. More than any other
influence, Indifferent and commonplace nomins-
.ons have added recruits to the army of stay-at
homes. The lethargy which makes the stot
army of General Apathy power in politics comes
Of tickets which have no marked features. Who
ever has Investigated the causes Of success in any
given election will be struck with the important
part which one or two good candidates have
played. There are times when voters come out so
freely 10 support ticket that those who called
the workers are surprised. There are other times
when the most persistent efforts Of rallying com.
mittees fail to bring out the party vote. In these
the causes will be found in the character OF
the cand ddates. An intelligent voter takes pride
in supporting men of well known character and
ability. He will, in time, become disgusted if re-
quired to vote for commonplace men.
The republican party has suffered great injury
by trequo mt changes in csnd dates for Congr
made IN conformity to that mischevous tradition
OF the democratic party, known as rotation iu
Office which is tue legitimate outgrowth Of the
victor and spoils heresy. BY this peruicIous poll
cy A must give way to d after two terms aud at
time When his services begin to be valuable
through familiarity with pubic affairs and pub
lic men. has 'claims" upon the party. If they
are not admitted his jealous support cannot be
counted. & is waiting for B, and so on through
the list, All of these gentlemen who have
claims seem to forget that a Congressional dis
tiict with population Of 1870 900 has no interests
10 be advanced or cared for which can only be
by q man of ability and experience.
NO better illustration OF this point can be found
than Is afforded by the present House. The eff
cheney OF the republican patty in the House is
due to the sbiily and experience Of fifteen OF
twenty hepresent tatves who have served from
eight to twelve years 10 the House. Without
these men, however able their associates, who have
no experience, the republican minority would not
be able to cope with the democratic majority with
out the aid OF such men as Garfield Banks, Hale,
Conger and Others who are veterans in the House,
and who can secure hearing when men of less
experience would be denied.
We are convinced that nothing would so much
contribute to a republican success the coming Fall
AS determination on the part of republican con
ventions to nominate men conspicuous for their
ability and character. there is talk of nominal
ing ex. Minister Washbnrn in an Illinois district
such course would not only call out the entnu-
siasm of the republicans aud independents iu that
locality, but the fact that the iepu Olcans are plac
ing such men in the House wonld have sslutary
thrpOunnut
nominations close districts could be carried and a
republican House chosen Boston Journal.