The Lincoln County leader. [volume] (White Oaks, Lincoln County, N.M.) 1882-189?, 1884-11-15
POLITICS AND PART1sANsHIP

There are many good men and
neighbors, who, through failing to
comprehend the difference between
politics" and "partisanship, y
are really not good citizens, though
they may esteem themselves as
such. But he is net good citizen
who does not exercise his right OF
franchise with all the care he void
were the destiny of the Nation de
pendent upon his individual vote. -
The word "politics" signifies the
science Of government, and not
who should hold the offices, while
partsanship" too generally i'm
plies blind, Needless, reckless allie
glance to party, regardless Of the
influence of their action on aught
but party.
How many do we see and know
who belong to either Of the antag-
onizing parties that can define their
politics only by the name Of their
party. And how often do we hear
men say that they belong to a par
ty because their father belonged to
1t, that they derived their tirst sus-
tenance from such political fount,
and were rocked in such political
cradle, forgetting or ignoring the
fact that Intervening time has set
tied all political questions in which
their progenitors took interest, as
also that God and man expects cv-
eryone to exercise his own iudg-
ment in politics as in everything
else, and act upon it.
Every voter should exercise his
elective franchise conscicntiouslv,
and not according to hereditary
principles, for he who votes as his
father before his majority did, votes
for Il dead man, Gf the father be
dead, and he who votes as his
father who is living, votes, and at
his instance, votes twice, and in
either case he votes illegally, since
he votes not for himself but for an
other party.
Some will not vote at all because
of dlsaffection with certain party
1t such are dissatisfied with affairs
in this Republic, are too pure to
help hold on their shoulders the
pillars Of our governmental fabric,
Canada, Mexico, Australia, and
Central America are conveniently
contiguous for emigration, and they
should HE thithcr.
Every four years our people are
privileged to vote their preference
for Chief Magistrate. This is, or
might be denominated legalizcd re-
volution. In every other country
popular revolutions are successful
or squelched by the Sullet-hcre
by the ballot, which executes Il
frecman's will" On such occa-
slons a great responsibility rests
upon every American citizen, and
its proper exercise should be held
sacred. Each man should be care.
fnl, and by his vote elevate to the
high office of President a man who
would shed lustre on the position,
and be an ornament to the Nation
by virtue of his intellectual gre t
ness, well equipped and balanced
"4N''''i VI 5"iIoiu' dIN IlOIdl up
rightnesS. He should, as nearly
as possible, represent the Amcri-
can spirit, be type Of American
manhood, an ideal American no
bleman. No man should be hon
ored by the Presidency who does
not represent in his person and
character our free institutions, the
Declaration Of Independence, the
Constitution Of the United States,
the Emancipation Proclamation,
free government, legal equality,
national union, and human pro
gress. Any other is unworthy of
a treeman's vote. the less so for the
reason that so many statesmen,