Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1884-05-02

The time ls approaching When the
"dear people" will be called upon to ex-
ercise their sovereign right of choosing
representatives to guard, protect and ad.
vance their interests in the two houses Of
the territorial legislature. The masses of
the people are honest. There IS where
the virtue lies that sustains and props-
gates republican form of government.
A loss of virtue IN tho people would be
the practical end of democratic govern.
ment. The people are often deceived in
ch heosing their representatives. an are
long suffering with those who betray
them, but when they do get their eyes
open they pay their Judsses off at the
next election most effectually and beyond
appeal from the decision, by the silent
yet omnipotent ballot
&C. Which executes freeman's will
AS lightning does the will ct God.''
1t is happy omen of the times that the
masses of both the great political parties
are not 80 hidebound in party prejudice
that they cannot repudiate at the polls any
man whom they have found to De unwor-
thy of their confidence and support NJ
matter If he has secured the nomination
on the ''s,raight ticket" This is the only
means of redress the masses Of the people
have, who are too busy with their work
to take the time to defeat unworthy poll
tlc,ans in the conventions.
Overwhelming prepouderance in num-
bers is the curse Of any party. 1t opens
wide the floodgates of corruption. De-
signing and interruptions demagogues
take advantage of it to foist themselves
into official position for sinister ends and
selfish aggrandizement. They employ
trickery and corrupt means to obtain the
nomin alton and that secured they smile
with the serenity of Boss Tweed and say
to the pso ole, "What are you going TO do
about it?' They go to the legislature
~ith their "itchlng palms" behind their
backs as much as TO say to the corporations
or individuals who have schemes to work
through, "what will you give for m vote
and lntluences" This is notorious.y the
case in all parts of the country whe re
either party is largely in the majority,
and one party is just as deep into 1t as The
other. Therefore we say It is little less
than a calamity to the interests of the
people in general for either party to be
overwhelmingly in the majority. Hap
PLY it ,s condition that IS short lived,
for the people will rise in their might and
overthrow venality and corruption wher-
ever found.
Take our own territory for an example.
1t has been SO that any man who could
secure the republican nomination, no
matter by what means, was sure of cleo
ton. What means the present rousing
and uprising Of the democracy all over
the territory! 1t simply means that the
masses of the people are gong to bring
the political Daniel to judgment, and il
is an omen of the times for which every
true republican who honors his party for
its principles, its history and Its illustri-
Gus and lncorruptible founders will thank
God and take courage. 1t means that the
days of the pot house politicians who
"are on the make" are numbered in this
territory aud that the party must present
candidates for Office who are capable and
honest or they will be repudiated at the
election. How far the late unenviable
session of the legislature is responsible for
this revulsion and revolution Vt political
sentiment, We shall not undertake to say.
1t is enough for US to know the debilita-
ted condition of the patient and apply the
remedy.
Thn .noo,rfnant of Ron Rnt1er n del.