The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-04-07
THE "BOSs" IN POLITICS.

One of the most fatal rocks upon
which the late lamented Democracy |
stranded and was finally the means
Of completely wrecking the great
was its characteristic boss
system of conducting party details.
It was ever ring within ring as
It were that dictated the nominations
and was looked up to by the rank and
ole to prepare the programme and
issue its edicts. These leaders were
ever ready to perform these self
assigned duties and the party was
too ready to acquiesce and do the
of the masters. The result
has been to nearly disrupt the party.
the more intelligent have
worked uneasily in the yoke, and we
see them keeping aloof from politics
and great numbers Of intelligent
Democrats arrayed as independent
thinkers and doubling whether or not
they cannot better subserve the
great interests of government by
voting for men instead of following
strictly party nominations. Every
community boasts Of large class of
this kind of voters, while yet few
old liners continue to struggle along
in the uphill work of keeping alive
the old organization and making the
usual nominations at all the conven-
lions.
Here is an example from which
Republicans should learn an impor-
tant lesson. We believe we have
arrived at q time when men should
think and act for themselves, but
at the same time we would not have
men undertake to reform any grow
ing wrongs outside the party. The
administration of President Hayes
demonstrated that within the party
was the place to correct errors and it
is evident President Garfield is fol.
lowing in those wise footsteps. At
this very moment we see leaders of
the party clamoring for appointments
that will advance their own individ.
ual ends regardless of the good of
the service or the party. They as
much as say that their own contin.
ued success or "boss" ascendency
must be preserved at all hazards and
their party enemies punished at the
expense of ultimate party success
they must be gratified though the
public be equally well subserved by
the appointment of men of the anti,
boss stamp, and the party interests
advanced by ignoring the "boss'
demands.
We think we see in President Gar
field and the advisers he has selected
men who have broad minds and have
at heart the good of the many ant
who are not inclined to bow at thu
bombastic edict of a few leaders
The people of this country are no
vassals dependent upon the say-sc
of self-constituted masters, and for
few men to assume to dictate t,
President and cabinet all subordinate
is not always safe. We would no
| by any means have those distinguish,
men ignored-in fact they should b
consulted and in the main gratilie,
perhaps, but il it was deemed tn
better part by the President and othe
great and careful minds to depar
occasionally from the "boes" path
then let it be done and not put on tn
war paint and threaten and buster a
every little effort at cancellation
between factions and individuals
Come down from your bombasti
stills upon which you are temporary
welding your political scepter and b
like other folks and not snarl an
threaten men in equally good positio
to know which is the best way t
accomplish the greatest good to tn
J greatest number.