The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-09-24

cal reform, and neither party is exempt
from fault. While either party pur-
sues certain system, the opposite
party feels compelled to engage in the
fight with the same weapons.
In the first place local caucuses and
conventions are called too early. AS
soon as candidates are placed in the
field they are made the special object
Of criticism, and, of course, are sub
jected to intense anxiety and severe
nervous strain until the election is de-
cided. No one who accepts a nomina-
ton, whether thrust upon him or
sought for, likes to be beaten. His
pride and popularity are at stake, if
nothing further.
In local affairs the candidates are
usually selected from well.known citiz-
ems, whether worthy or not, and it re-
quireS but an announcement of their
names for us to decide whether we can
give them our support or not. If sew
eral weeks intervene between the nomi
nation and election, it affords ample
time for any amount Of mischief, and
politicians and poltroons on either side
spend timein traduclng their opponents,
or seeking to defeat them in some un-
fair or mean, underhanded manner
while the candidate is suffering all the
fortunes of anxiety. Those who have
never been placed before the public
seldom appreciate the feelings of can.
|,didate in aaclosely and bitterly contest
led election. 1t is equally fair for either
Eparty to place their nominees before
the public as short time before the
Election as practicable.
In elections embracing larger ex.
tent of territory, such as Congressional
State, or general elections, and in cases
wherein it is not to be supposed the
people generally are acquainted with
the candidates, longer time is re.
quired in order that they may inyes.
stigate the candidates and acquaint
themselves as to their proper qualifca
tons. Usually, the time which they
| are before the public should be some
thing in proportion to the extent OF
territory embraced in the election dis
trict.
+ Another cause for grievous com.
plant is the use of money for election.
eering purposes. If the present system
continues, it is question of time when
the length of purse will decide the
| election. Well may the laboring man
complain that he stands no chance for
political preferment. No matter how
worthy or well qualified, he is liable to
be: defeated by some demagogue, whose
ready cash will purchase voters as base
as himself. Existing laws are of little
avail; some method is contrived to
evade them. It is true that no man
who has a spark of self-respect will
sell his vote, but there are thousands
who have as little respect for them
selves as others have for them. In
the state of New York system has
been prevalent Of paying the voter for
the days work which he is supposed to
lose by attending the election, at
some price agreed upon, the vote which
he will cast having been first ascertain
ed.
Some of our local candidates in this
county have been known TO expend
$500 to $500, or even $1,000, to secure
their election, and perhaps finally de-
feated. What chance has the poor
man in such contest, although in6n-
itely superior to his competitor in all
that constitutes manhood-superiority
in education, Judgment, intellect and
morals-for wealth does not monopo-
lie all the, virtues superior in every
thing except his pile of dollars and
cents.
!. Another crying evil is, selecting can
didates for their availability, rather
than for their qualifications. If the
better class of citizens neglect to at-
tend the primaries, leaving them to be
managed by politicians, tricksters and
poltroons, they must not be surprised
if nominees are selected from the same
class. The stream will not rise higher
than its fountain head. Everything
else being equal, it is natural to prefer
to see the offices filled by those in poll
teal sympathy with ourselves, but we
are not so trammeled by party lines as
to prefer villain or fool of our own
political stripe rather than man of
IOuOl uAu JuuS ulCuu WIZ uluOIS WILL
us politically. We cannot subscribe to
the old Democratic watch-word, GO
with your party. if it goes to the devil"
People are going to the devil fast
enough without being urged on by
political strife. We are not of that
class who can see nothing but virtue in
our own party, and nothing but villainy
and meanness in our opponents. We
believe there are good men and villains
in both parties, and it becomes us to
call out the former and shun the latter,
and conduct the campaign in accord
ance, with the rules of honorable war
fare. Wit, sarcasm and blackguardism
may be mistaken for argument, and
appreciated by the lower orders, whose
votes are in the market for the highest
bidder; but cannot be mistaken by an
intelligent and respectable people.
We may have something further to
offer on this subject III another num-
Der. D.