Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-21
DAILY POST lNTELuGENCER.
v,prpsxugscE

Andover Regie,e for June ia quoted VIII
.nn,ov;no comments bya Portland con
temporary. II statss the position oi 'N
independents in this Language
The independents do not assume y
s;...,. the nomination. They do
affirm. however, their determination 70
oppose certain possible n9fninati'hs Va
. varv different way from that IN SLlcn
party opposition usually ends ney
.n,ar the convention with the under
standing that under very possible CON
.;r,anci.s they will not submit to tue
decision of the majority. This purpose
shows an independence within tue par
~ which il is to be hoped will remove
the necessity of the assertion OF inde-
pendence Of party" This was pub
lished before the Republican Nationai
Convention met at Chicago, and pre-
sumably reflected the sentiments Oh
that class of participants IN that con
veution who now refuse to support i'S
nominees.
The facts are these A number OF
oentIemen we're selected by the hepno
licans of New York and Massachusetts
States in which, IL anywhere, the IN
dependent or boiling movement mas
strsnqth or any considerable sup
port. They were selected under the
plan proposed by the National Exeen-
tive Committee of the Republican par
tv. either by election in Congi essisnal
districts or by eIsction in State eonVen-
tons az delegates at large. They were
elected under majority role. 1. e., II 10
district conventions toy majority OF
such bodies, if in State conventions by
a majority of the delegates thereto
Up TO this point il is evident that the
rule of the majority was enforced. In
New York, for instance, the delegates
favorable to Arthur combining with
delegates favorable to Edmunds elected
the four delegates at large.
Thus elected and qualified they went
to Chicago, presented credentials. we're
admitted and participated actively IN
all proceedings Of the convention.
Every action had by that body, whether
In committees, upon temporary organi-
cation. election of new National Com
mitteemen, motions, adjournment, etc =,
was had under the rule of the majority.
At no time preceding the final ballot,
which nominated candidate for Presi-
dent, was the principle, that the will OF
the majority should be binding, ques-
toned. To the contrary, RESOLUTION
pisdping delegates TO acquiesce IN the
decision of the majority, was stigma
tized az insulting by the foremost rep
resentative of the independents, and In
consequence thereof withdrawn by its
mover. The majority nominated in the
regular manner, without charge or sus-
picion of illegality or wrong doing, a
candidate for President. To this
action of the Republican party, had by
a large majority of its delegates in con-
vention assembled, objection is now
raised, and IN the decision of the party
thus expressed the independently re-
fuse 10 acquiesce. They go farther,
and threaten TO defeat at the polls the
selected candidate of the party with
whose aims and history they claim
sympathy, and in whose management
they have thus far been conspicuous.
We believe that this sort of independ-
ence Is unrepublican. Ii is opposed TO
the very existence of party organiza-
tions. 1t is in direct conflict with the
principles upon which such organiza-
tions rest. Ii ia destructive of unity
and productive of factional contest.
We have been taught that the govern
ment under which we live is one of ma
jorities. The citizens of this Republic
have united themselves for mutual pre-
lection. Each member has given up
certain portion Of his natural rights
into the keeping Of the community, and
consented that majority thereof should
within certain fixed limitations control
and regulate bis individual acts. The
analogy holds good to more or less ex-
tent in party organizations. These are
associations of electors, who, being of
like opinion respecting certain funda-
mental principles Of government, have
united to enforce them. To do this
they have classified themselves. and
adopted certain rules of organization.
OF these the rule of the majority is
prime and Indispensable. and while the
right, the physical right, to bolt-io re-
padiate the action of the maiority--un-
doubtedly exists, the moral right is not
30 plain. except il be based on reasons
not ordinarily apparent.
There is a practical side TO politics
The Independents who participated in
the late convention at Chicago were as g.
sumedly Republicans, devoted not to
the fortunes Of man. but to the sue
cess of party with whose principles
they were in accord. The convention
put forth platform. to which they gave
adhesion by voting for its adoption.
The only objection then is in the candi.
date. MIR. Blaine, although the choice of
a very large majority Of their associates,
is not satisfactory TO them. Well, what
is to be done? The independents of
Boston, a few days ago, resolved that
the country would be better served by
opposing than by supporting the ticket"
and few independents of New York
City, day before yesterday, on motion
Of Carl Schurz, made similar declare.
ton. To be consistent. these men
should now attend the Democrats Cen
vention as delegates and endeavor 10
dictate the nominee, failing in which q
new party must be formed. II is GER
tain that the next President will be
elected by one of the two existsn, great
parties. II Ss NO less true that apathy
is cowardly that the duty Of every
eiectof Is to vote. To our mira IA an