The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-08-26
Parties and Primaries.

EdrIl6S anu GIlludT1SSs
The Baltimore Sun of the 4th instant had,
under the above caption, long and labored
editorial article, the gist of which, as far as
the gist can be arrived at, was that the action
of nominating conventions should not be bind
ing upon the members Of apolitieal party, and
that the obligation upon a citizen; who pro-
fesses allegiance to a party, to support the
nominees of the party conventions ought not
to be paramount to his own individual judg
meut or personal preferences. -P0r Tobacco
Times.
The SIN, like all Independent papers,
affects an adherence of partisanship and of
political parties. A political party is sim
ply an association of men holding similar
views on questions of public policy. There
is no organization, in the usual acceptance
of the word; no oath to take and no forms
to be observed in taking stand with one
or another party In the early days of the
Republic there were no political parties.
When the government was organized the
people were of one mind. Liberty was the
object and aim of all. Men soon differed
as to the best form of government to secure
to them their rights and privileges. JEFF
ferson and Hamilton were the two great
leaders of the conflicting views, and the
great majority accepted the Jeffersonian
ideas of government. The division among
men then, exists to-day very nearly on the
same questions, though of late years both
parties depressed from the paths of those
great leaders, The Republicans have gone
much farther from the principles of Ham,
ilton than the Democrats have gone from
those of Jefferson The Democracy is
getting back to the old constitutional moor
ings, and the Republicans are drifting far
Their away. One is daily gaining strength
and the other is daily declining in power.
One is approaching glorious victory and
the other is on the verge of defeat and
disaster.
Political parties are a great blessing.
By association there Is unity of action,
without which good cannot be accomplished
nor evil ;hwarted. 1t is well, too, that the
people are divided into two parties, for one
is check upon the other. When parties
in a county, state or in the country are
pretty evenly balanced in strength, the
successful one is not apt TO 90 to extremes.
Whenit does for any length of time its
defeat is certain.
To hold parties together, favors are be
slowed upon the faithful and unswerving.
The man who puts his judgment above thar
of his party, and bolts off with another par
" or refrains from voting, because his in
dividual ideas are not carried out, is not
the one to be trusted. The San doctrine.
if acted upon, would destroy all parties.
If every man used his own judgment there
would be no unanimity of action, and the
election Of bad and incompetent public
officers would often ensne Efficient and
honest men, aud strict party men, should
always be put forward for Office When
this is done, BY fair expression Of party
opinion it is the duty Of the party of his faith
to support him with one accord at the polls
Because some other candidate whom 20.
ter favored was not chosen. does DOT alb
solve the votaT from his party obligations,
Men should be actuated by principles alone,
and it is for principles he casts his ballot
not for men.
The San, we presume, would absolve
from party obligation voter WHO takes
part in a primary or convention, when the
aetion of such primary or convention does
not accord with his Judgment. Every man,
of course, Is privileged to act and vote as
he pleases, but it Is not honest to engage
in the work Of making nominations and
then not support the nominees. Such ae-
ton should for considerable time debar
man from political favors, and generally
does. Neither Is II honest to hold Office
from a party when the holder wearies Of
his party obligations and proposes to use
his own judgment about supporting his
party nominations-that Is, support them
il he chooses or vote with some other party.
II is no excuse for man pretending to be
a good Democrat or a good Republican that
there may be no special principles involved
in the result of an election. When his
party puts up good ticket, he i. expected
to support IL The parry makes nomina-
tons to maintain its organization, and It's
success has NOS only good effect at home
but upon the party elsewhere. 1t is for
this reason many times that party nomisla-
tons are made.
Deprecating partisanship "a unwise. Ii
is only where partisanship Is carried to ex-
trenes is it to be eensured.