Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-10-26
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.

Ouu0T ally lOIul VI BOV0TUmoDU, par
ticularly the republican, political parties
are inevitable--they are nothing less
than the embodiments of principles
the methods by which principles
are more efectually promulgated
and policies made effective; and
those who ignore this fact and deny
the necessity or Importance OF political
organization fail to comprehend not only
the full duties of citizenship but one of
the grandest sources of social and gov
ernmental progress 1t is not main
tanned that political parties are always
pure, always consistent, or always
periodically led; but it is a fact that all
those that have attained prominence and
long lease of life had their origin in a
sincere desire to establish some principle
or policy which it's advocates and adher-
ents believe calculated to promote the
| public veal. When the primary object
of a party has been fully accomplished,
or when its members have become un-
mindful of its fundamental principles
and sought only to make it machine
for the accomplishment of merely per-
sonal ends or the securing of power, it
has ultimately dwindled in Importance
or entirely ceased to exist
No great reform in government, no
victory for grand principles has ever
been achieved without the instrumental
ity of party machinery. It is quite true
that this machinery has often been made
the instrument for the accomplishment
of unworthy ends, but so has almost
every thing good been perverted. The
perversion of any thing is an evidence of
its original or fundamental value. Ar
gument is not necessary to establish
these propositions-the truth will ap-
pear to all who intelligently and care
fully reflect upon them. The history of
the governments of Europe is one long
story of the struggle of parties, and for
the most part of the eventual triumph of
those that had the best claims to be con-
sidered the representatives of progress
and right. Our own history has fur
nished striking examples of the truth of
what has been said, and in no case has it
been more fully illustrated than in the
organization and march to power of the
republican party. Whatever people
may say of it now, few unpreiudiced
persons will deny that it's organization
was the capitalization of one of the
grandest principles that ever stirred the
hearts and souls of people, or that it
has accomplished more for human hber-
ty and justice than any other party that
ever existed. 1t is equally true that no
other party now exists that so consist
emily adheres to the principles
that gave it life and power;
and while it may be true
that few of those principles are now de-
MED by any considerable number of our
people, and that no great questions of
principle or policy are now at stake,
there is sad lack of wisdom in the as
sertion not unfrequently heard that sit
now makes no difference which party at
tains power. It is truth, which few
will deny, that the party which has Sc
cured the success of particular line of
policy is the one best calculated to main
tain and defend it. Not all the princi-
pies which have given the republican
party power and contributed to the pros
perity of the people have been so firmly
established that there is no fear of their
overthrow; hence the importance of the
maintenance of the partys ascendency.
In order that this ascendency may be
preserved 1t is necessary that the party
organization in all its ramifcations be
effectively maintained: and this can not
be accomplished without the presenta-
ton of regular tickets at all local cleo
tons of Importance and persistent Efforts
for their success. No party ever attained
power or continued therein that did not
struggle for it at every opportunity; and
those who imagine that because great
national questions may not be involved
in state, county or city election the sue
cess of party therein is not important,
fail to comprehend the secret of party
power.
| There is very considerable class of
really good citizens who seem to imagine
that their whole political duty is done if
once In four years, that is at each presi
Dental election, they 60 to the polls and
cast their votes. With them state cleo
tions are seldom of much importance,
and they regard local party victories as
unworthy of their thought or effort. The
reasons which they assign for this course
of conduct are as pernicious as they are
illogical. There is choice between
parties and tickets at every election, and
every citizen is in duty bound to make
it in conscientious manner
The people of Wisconsin will soon be
called upon to make choice of state adj
ministration for the next two years; and,
Willie dlorc Is HO SIedb queStlOH VI ua-
tional or state policy involved, party in
terests are; and, as has been shown,
these are always more or less directly re-
lated to those of the state or nation.
Let, therefore, every voter punctually
discharge his whole duty in the contest.
Let there be no indifference-no BELT
thing of the struggle by the hattering
JUNCTION that sit makes no difference
which party is successful"
The republicans have nominated men
for the various state offices of whose
character, capability and integrity there
is no ground for question. They are
certainly the equals in these respects of
their opponents, if not their superiors.
They were, in spite of what may be said
by persons smarting under personal dis
appointments, fairly nominated, and
thus entitled to the cordial support of