Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-08-14

continues. But the thing condemned is
now entirely imaginary. There is no
ring. Howe, Sawyer, Keyes, each of our
members in congress, and every other
man who has any political aspirations,
fights his own battles, and conducts his
own campaign, entirely independent Of
the others. Indeed the difficulty with
the republican party in Wisconsin to-day
is that it has not sufficient unity of action
Cor. We'll, you evidently haven't
heard of the legislative committee gotten
up at Madison last winter?
Mr.. C.--Yes: | have heard of that
committee and have seen the names of
its members. And their character and
standing as republicans and men of hon
or are a sufficient guarantee that their
efforts will be for the success of the party
and that alone. [ believe the party
would be stronger if we had more com
mittees at work. We ought to have at
least one handwriting committee in every
county, each working for the success of
the party.
Cor.-Do you read The Mzuaukee Sen.
tineL? H-.
Mr.. C.-Sometimes.
Cor.-That sheet calls such men ma
chine politicians.
Mr.. CT don't know as I understand
what is meant by machine politician.
Ii 1t means one who takes a lively inter-
est In the management and administra
ton OF party affairs, attends caucuses and
nominating conventions, and endeavors
TO his utmost to secure the success of his
party, then the more machine politicians
the better. Every man ought to be one.
In this country the people govern. They
make the laws, and make and unmake
public men. And everyone knows that
tree institutions can only be administered
through political organization; and every
organization implies some executive head
because it is impossible for the people en-
masse to execute the details of any plan
whatever. This is true of every organi
eaton known among men-from the most
powerful government in the world, down
to village debating society. 1t is the
duty OF every citizen to take an interest
in and exercise his influence public af-
talrs and this he can only do by acting
in combination with others; or, in COM
mon phrase, uniting with some political
party He will of course act with that
party which most nearly represents and
executes his sentiments. And then be-
lieving that his party is in the right, it is
his duty to do every Legitimate thing in
his power to secure its success, because
the success of his party promotes that
line of policy which he regards as best
for the interests of his country.
Cor But the Sentinel claims that men
are active in politics simply to gain official
positions; that your delegation in con-
gress and all your officehoders are
working for their own personal ends, and
not for the good Of their party.
Mr.. C.-This charge is without any
foundation. The republicans of Wiscon-
sin were never represented in the house
with more ability than they are to-day
Every one of our members has worked
untiringly for the interest of the portion
Of the State which he represents; and
their experience and fitness for their pos
ition entitle them to reelection This
wholesale abuse of our public men by
The Sentinel cannot be too strongly con-
demned.
Cor.-Why, it is understood that the
Sentinel is your organ, and that it express
ses your views.
Mr.. C.-Ihere,, never was greater mis-
take. have no more control or voice
in the policy or management of the Sen
hnel than l have of the Chicago Times.
The best evidence Of this is the fact that
its most violent attacks have been made
upon my warmest personal friends, those
who have stood nearest to me when I
most needed friends, and to whom am
under the deepest obligation. The course
of the Sentinel in this particular is in my
opinion, without justification or excuse,
and am in no way responsible for it nor
connected with it. The abuse Of Keyes,
Enos, Moak, Payne, Town, and others
because they are postmasters, and Fiield
and others because they are active re-
publicans, and laboring to continue the
ascendancy of the party, is, to say the
least, indetensible.
There is much more of the same
sort, but the above is sufficient to show
the estimation in which Mr.. Carpenter
holds the Sentinel as a Republican or.
gen-a feeling, we may say, which is
generally shared by Republicans every
where. .....