Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1884-08-05
SOMETHING OF POLITICs-6EN'
ERAL AND SPECIFIC.

whom the Presidential election is q mat
ter CT extreme and bipartisan import
ance, should divest themselves, as far
as possible, of bias and prejudice In con-
sidering the nominees Of the two great
parties for that office. This should be
done, we say, as far as possible; for we
know that the majority of Democrats
and, also, the great majority of Repub-
licans will vote their ticket let come
what may. These will do SO, some OF
them with their eyes shut and others,
with their eyes wide open. 1t is not
oyer-stating the case to say that the
larger part of any political party in the
United States will vote for its nominee
under any circumstances whatever. They
may vote for him in the very blindness
Of party fealty. because, as did soldiers
in the army of Mahomet, they call them
selves Faithful, and follow wherever
their generals lead. 1t is on this IN
questioning, partisan host that the
''chiefs" depend. These partisan eie-
ments, arrayed against each other, serve
a purpose, however, that is not unwhoie-
some. The contention OF parties, kept
up by this factional strife, is good for
the country, al it sets one part OF the
people in judgment upon the other. 1t
keeps the majority in responsibility to
the minority; it holds the representatives
of the party in power under constant
criticism; it therefore restraints the
rulers" (vile name in a Republicl and,
at last, brings about a revolution at the
ballot-box. Were there no such check.
our Government would not be long in
throwing of its form and, perhaps, IN
losing its existence. Yet, the emergency
may arise in which the millions Of hon
est, but unthinking. voters in the United
States will prove to be not less danger
Gus to the country than citizens who are
actually mercenary and criminal. This
latter and vicious class Of men, who feed
at the public crib, intrigue forever and
give to politics the color Of unsel6shness
and Simon-pure patriotism. They map
GU. the battles for The Faithful. and The
Faithful, Who are truly worthy Of the
name, but are often fools nevertheless,
because il they are right, they are
so by accident, go in up to the neck in
gore, il necessary, 10 conquer spoils and
high places for ringmasters to whom they
are dupes and tools That this is so,
goes, nowadays, without saying. Every
body knows that . great deal Of blind
following is true OF national politics
especially. Millions of men may go on
for years and years voting for an idea
an idea which may be correct or false, so
great is the power of discipline. A pO-
lisical party once in possession of the
machinery Of government may hold it in
definitely. A great and enlightened
nation may believe themselves all pie
beian, may believe, as nearly all Europe
does. that the right to govern is of divine
origin and belongs exclusively to certain
persons. How else could a woman have
become the Queen of Great Britain, .
government on which the sur never sets,
and Empress Of India, by way Of en-
phasis and ornament to the ''divine
right" Men. thank heavens, are de.
barred by the nature of our government
from 30 belittling themselves in their
OWE estimation in this country; but
still there is q clearly manifest
arrogance among the people of the United
States-among those who have been
spoiled by power and are growing into
the idea that the Government belongs to
them, not yet by ''divine right" They
say always by the ''voice of the people"
Those of the opposition who have the
hardihood to contend with them for the
control of affairs they call traitors and
rebels; while those who, being Of their
own party. dare to differ from them in
views of public policy, they call dudes
and '~soreheads." Yet these very men
so-called, and further stigmatized as
"malcontents, '~'renegades." TRAITORS, +"
Glars" etc., whether they bolt from
this party or that. Democratic, Republi.
can or what not, are the very men on
whom this country depends for its pres.
emit prosperity and its ultimate safety
when, as predicted, the two opposing par.
ties may be SO nearly equal in strength
that neither will be willing to yield the
Government to the other. Never mind
what may then be the motive of the In
dependents, it may be the balance Of
power they hold that will tide the ma
ton over an armed revolution and give
it . fresh lease of life on the simple prin.
ciples in which it originated. And it is,
too. . fair presumption always and must
be accepted as conclusive. except when
positive facts to the contrary are ad.
yanced, that these men are honest and