The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-27
Common Sense in Politics.

so nnmindful of the rights and interest!
of others.
Common Sense in Politics.
| 1t is rarely the case that success or de
feat In heated and important political con
1 tests does not make the active partici
pant lose his wits. If victorious he in
I dulges in the most extravagant fancies
gives loose reign to his preiudices ant
passions, and conceives the notion that hi
diseased and infiamed conceptions mus
be made the rule Of party conduct. or ruiz
and disaster will follow. He carries this feel
ing with him into all the relations of life
Ills political opponent is to him u perso
| nal enemy-an enemy to society and all thu
best interests of government and commu
nifty. He never thinks that he has the righ
TO his opinion aswell as himself that differ
emit conclusions lead Co opposing parties
and that opposing parties areithe surest safe
guards of honest administration and eau
tlous. clrcumspect official action. Where
such evidences of crazy partizanism are
manifested, we will invariably find narrow
minds loose conceptions of Individual
right and perverted view of public duty.
They are just the kind OF men to run the
modern party machine-to do dirty party
work and convert popular elections into a
means Of exposing the weakness, the cCr-
ruption and the mendacity Of the merce-
nary and time-seryer. instead of being ac-
cepted as the agency of declaring the free
mans will. Success with such uncovers
the latent meanness OF their natures and
under the cloak OF enthusiasm eoneeals the
assassin S motive.
There are those whom defeat presses
down with 4 morbid apprehension,
and invests With gloom and despon-
dency the whole range of their men,
tai vision. They cannot accept re-
verse as one Of the probabilities of polit-
cal contests, and philosophically recognize
the inevitable when they are compelled to
face it. They mourn over what might
have been and reproach both friends and
foes With doing something or another
which they should not have doEe. or if
done in different way, would have worked
a different result, They do not think that
one of the parties has to be defeated, that
somebody has to be disappointed and that
in the fluctuations OF public opinion and
white mans uncertainty the chances
are as good for the one as the other. They
see but one side and absorbed in the infal-
libility Of their own Judgment. they are
not awakened to their folly until they
feel the shock of disappointment and de-
feat. s
THESE Two classes are mischievOus guides.
They are not capable Of taking rational
view Of conditionslor Judging fairly of the
motive and conduct of others. With the
successful partizan, q cheerful criticism
or good humored acknowledg of re-
verse from the defeated, is construed into
acringing purpose and mercenary de-
sign. With the disappointed they con-
ceive that all of their political association
should wear Grape ana go about bemoaning
the peryersity of human nature and the
wickedness of every one who happens to
think differently Arecognition of an If
reversible fact and desire to evolve from
it all the comfort possible, is contorted in
toa surrender ofpolitical conviction and a
time-serving purpose to make fair weather
with the victorious. s-,Fsri ,4sts.. +.
How much better would it be if all such
pests could be eliminated from party con-
troll and their influence measured by it's
intrinsic value. But with such, who too
frequently give tone to party policy there
is no recognition of the common interests
OF community, no acknowledgment that
each member Of society is presumed to
seek the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der, and that men widely differing in con-
yictions and conclusions may strive for
the same end through diverse agencies.
We are charitable enough to believe that
the great mass of the people are honest in
their intentions, and if left to themselves.
free from the malign and pernicious in
huencegof the potters and schemers and
their selfish designs, we would have
but little of the malignant spites and un-
natural hates which in degree mar the
peace of community and cause estrange-
ments, where common interests should |
bind together. ga&i 6
1t is the absence Of commo n-sense and |
honest motives in politics which brings
about such unfortunate conditions. Many |
men are above the methods of the intoler-
ant partzan. and if such men would as
sert their right and exercise their influ-
ence, the intolerant partizans, whether in
success or defeat, would be retired to their |
atmosphere, to fight out their
spites until the fate of the Kilkenny cats
should be theirs. All fair men recognize
the duty of supporting constituted au-
Ehority, and submitting, without indecent
nurmur, TO the will of the people when it !
IS lawfully expressed. Whether willing
or not, all have to succumb. and it is far
better and more commendable toaccept like
men than to be driven to it like churls. 1t
implies a surrender of no conviction Nor
,ompels change of party relations to DO
10. 1t is only acknowledging the inevita-
Die without abating one Jot or little of
devotion to principle or policy. 1t is tx.
PRESSING a Willingness to give your oppo-
rent fair trial-to throw no obstacle in
he way of success, and to sustain and up.
lold III everything that tends to benefit
md promote the welfare OF all alike.
There is no argument in intolerance. there
IS no reason IN partizan spites, there is no
courage In morbid dependency The in
ulgence OF either is evidence Of mental
oyerty or moral weakness, and is certain
o be followed by The distrhst and commits.
ration,if not contempt, of all fair minded
len who aspire to be just to their neigh
ofs and Judge them by the same rule