The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-09-14
THE U TICKET.

4th inst, and also present the ticket made up
from the nominations then conferred. In so
doing we mention only those candidates
whose nomination was decisive, leaving out
of consideration the recommendations to the
district convention, which may not, and III
case of one of the three proposed councll
memberships most likely will not, be acted on
favorably by the district convention to assem-
BILE at the capital to-day.
Passing then to the distinctly county ticket
and addressing ourselves not to those who
have helped form the ticket, or who, if they
did not so assist, nevertheless fully approve OF
it as it stands, we shall claim the attention OF
those whose Judgment would have placed on
the ticket names not to be found there as it
appears to-day. Among this audience we
know we shall find many suffering keen dis
appointment, while some may even 60 so far
as to harbor resentment against their fellow
Democrats for the overthrow of hopes for
whose c~onsummation they were prepared to
make almost any ~eXertion or sacrifice. They
may perhaps have attended the convention for
the sole purpose of championing the cause of
some candidate who met with defeat. and in
that defeat they see a net result SO diametri-
cally opposed to the ripest conclusions OF their
own Judgment that they find it exceedingly
hard to credit this unwelcome overthrow of
their hopes to convictions as well founded and
intentions as honest as their own. We would
remind all of this way of thinking that party
government, in its very nature and organiZa-
ton, p~re-supposes an honest difference OF opin-
ion among those conducting it. If we were
all of one way of thinking there would be no
need of any such expensive contrivance as a
convention for the purpose of assuring an ar-
thoritative and unqucstionable expression of
the will or opinion Of the majority. If differ
ences were not to be expected us II matter Of
course. the popular wish could find expression
through some simpler and more convenient
channel than the convention, and all would
be satisfied. But many men, many
minds" 1t is no more rational to eN-
pect unanimity in politics than it would to
look for It in matters relating to any other
department of life or to anticipate an entire
agreement of tastes IN the expression of
oPl ilo1l ilihS III "oiiS M
periences. Men will differ, and as human
l.ature is constituted no better method can
be adopted Of securing unity of purpose and
harmonious action among a large body of
men than that of securing a fair expression
of the wishes Of the majority, all hands
pledglng themselves in advance to conform to
those wishes no matter whether they happen
to be among the majority enunciating them,
or numbered with the majority protesting
against their adoption. And thisi is precisely
what a political convention is for. In the
ticket before us we have the honest express
sion of the opinion shared in by the majority
of that convention. A great majority of the
gentlemen composing that convention were
sincere and honest in the opinion that the
ticket as printed to-day is the very strongest
that could have been presented, and the one
with which, rather than with any other which
could have been presented the party is likely
to achieve success. Since this Is so-since we
have NJ grounds whatever for either i'm
pugning the intelligence or doubling
the honesty of the gentleman at whose
hands we receive our county ticket is
it not just a little bit presumptuous tor any
"kicker' virtually to proclaim his individ-
ual Judgment as superior to the collective
judgment of the party representatives, in con-
vention assembled? And this is what he does
as soon as he undertakes 10 cavil at the ticket
as "weak,' or pick out a spot here and there
where a little judicious patching after his
judgment would greatly improve it. y defer
ence to the will of the majority is the very
corner stone of party government. The time
to protest against the wishes or opinions of
the majority is before those wishes or opin-
ions are authoritatively pronounced, and while
there is yet time for their modification through
debate and discussion. But when once pro-
nounced a manly and loyal submission to the
will of the majority is what the party has a
right to expect of all, no matter how widely
they may differ in their individual opinions
from that collective opinion enunciated IN the
party platform and resolutions,o or through the
party nominations. Only through acceptance
of and obedience to the principle embodied
in the formula "majority rule" can we hope
to arrive at harmony in action, and without
harmony it is useless to expect or hope to
party victory. As for ourselves we sincerely
and cordially accept the ticket as a good ant
exceedingly strong one, and we earnestl.
commend as hearty an acceptance of it to GU
readers whose privilege it is to consider them
selves members of the Deer Lodge Count,
democracy.
To descend from generals to particulars
the nominations for the house are good
representing as they do the practical ex
!, p~erience of those we'll versed in mining,m er
chandising, farming and stock growing, Will
the eloquence of a distinguished orator is i'm