National Republican., 1882-10-17
About Bosses.

All great movements require some in
dividual, corporate, or associate head.
Whether in business pursuits, religion, or
society it is the same. There must be
some guiding spirit, some responsible
power to direct, supervise, and control
In politics there can be no exception to
this general rule. On the contrary, in
view of the diversity of interests and
opinions, there is all the more reason for
its being strictly enforced. Parties, how
-exeE strepg.. u'Baf,telmpa1gh We're each
member to be considered n law unto HIM
self MS regards the policy to be pursued.
All might agree touching the cardinal
principles involved, but differ essentially
as to the proper methods to be pursued
in order to make them eflectual, and, as
matter of course, the result would be Il
speedy and absolute disintegration of
forces, rendering every individual effort
looking to success entirely fruitless.
The truth of this has been recognized
in the past, by the selection of party
leaders or representatives upon whom is
devolved the marking out of the plans of
political canvass and the conduct Of a
campaign. Men in whose wisdom and
sagacity the party have confidence, and
those who h ave earned a right to prefer
ment by their services i'll the past, are
chosen in convention, and to these are
delegated, either specifically or by mu-
tual consent of the masses, every power
necessary to the accomplishment of the
objects in view. OF late years these party
leaders have come to be called, by GER
tain malcontents, "political OosAes," and
the means they adopt (uniled ann har-
monious action) to carry out the will of
the people they represent, machine"
1t is only the unreasoning and selfish,
however, who object to leadership, and
who, as q reason for setting at defiance
party discipline, characterize it as the
tyranny of "bosses" or the outcome of
machine politics" And these discon-
tented sorcheads fail to recognize the
fact that in arraying themselves against
the majority they are endeavoring to
build q machine of their own-to install
themselves as bosses" and that against
the wishes of all but small minority Of
those who claim to profess similar views
to their own in politics. In other words,
the so-called Indep pendents are merely
would-be political Bosses" who, sailing
under false Colors, endeavor to assume
powers which the majority are unwilling
to give them.
Such being the case, the question
naturally arises, under which boss"
shall the people serve-what machine
shall they follow?
Shall they submit to the authority
designated by the majority-to the action
of the machine" which that majority
has constructed and keeps in running
order-or shall they desert to the first
rebel that hoists his own individual
standard of selfshness and puts his per.
sonal machine in order for the pur-
pose, if it be possible, of smashing
the legitimate and properly consti-
tuted organization? We think the
answer will at once suggest itself to
every thinking Republican. We have
had rebels enough in the past. We want
no more of them. When member o f
our party gets so that he sets his indi-
vidual wishes, interests, and opinions
over AGAINST those of the majority let
him be sent across the lines to the
enemy sramp, where he properly belongs
Hhn army must have commander but it
cannot succeed with two claiming equal
powers and authority; nor can political
party hope to be successful if it have too
many leaders. The sooner this fact is
learned the better. We must, in the very
nature of things and in the sense we have
shown, haye bosses;" but let us have
no more than are necessary. And, more
pver, let us see to it that we permit no
nalcontents among. us to arrogate to
themselves the right to leadership.