Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-05
POLITICAL PARTISANS.
Some Common-Sense Comm ents on Pa
tisan and Partisanship.

tisan and Partisanship.
In all governments where the peo-
pie have voice in the dire elton of af-
| fairs there are bound to be at least
two parties, the members of the one,
ated by laudable desire to advance
their country's interests. They may
| differ on questions of policy and in re-
gard to the methods by which the
public good can best be secured; but
there is not and never can be be tween
| them any difference as to their ulti-
mate purposes and hopes, since both
| common country. He is narrow
minded and illiberal indeed, who will
not concede to his opponents honesty
of purpose and sincerity of conviction,
however much he may be opposed to
their policy.
That there will always be two parties
is fact that is self-evdent, for the
shall be of one mind, is but the
impractical dream of vision airy
whose thoughts are altogether Uto-
plan. More than this. it is a most eA-
celent thing for the country that its
citizens are divided into parties
What the Olympian games were in
determining the athletic supremacy OF
the ancients. the contests of parties
are in improving the popularity of the
political champions of the day. Each
party is continually placed upon it's
good behavior. When in power it
endeavors to win the confidence that
shall insure Its remaining so; when
out of power, it strives to draw around
it's banner an influence that will place
it at the head of affairs.
So much for parties; now for the
partisans and partisanship. How oft
we hear the term partisan" applied
to man. the tone employed being
censorious. as though partisanship
were something to be decried. when,
on the contrary, in its best and truest
sense, to be partisan Is to be a good
citizen. All citizens who appreciate
the duties and responsibilities of citi-
zenship will be found in the ranks of
some of the political parties. knowing
| that it is concerted, collected action
that can alone make itself felt. The
| free lances. those which belong to no
party. yield allegiance to none, and,
in fact, do not believe in parties. are of
but little account in politics, so far as
affecting results is concerned. Indi-
vidual independence is an excellent
thing in its way. and is by no means
discouraged. When man finds HIM
self not in harmony with the party
| which has hitherto possessed his in
| tiuence and his vote, it is his duty to
that party and to himself 10 break the
| bond of uncongenial aud insincere as
ISOLATION. His duty to himself de-
mands this. that he may have the con-
seriousness of following the dictates OF
conviction, rather than of INDUCING
| in dishonest qualification. His duty
| to his party demands his withdrawal,
| rs his half hearted and insinccre sup
port is worse than his opposition.
! However, he still remains q partisan,
| though of another party, and as a
partisan he still emphasizes his regard
| for the duties and obligations of citi-
ZNitSHip.
IN conclusion. it may be said that
| partisanship is but another name for
patriotism, and so long as it is the
| outgrowth of intelligence. and is
| governed by proper spirit, just so
| long will it continue ito be a badge of
honor to a man. rather than stigma
of reproach. Any man who sincerely
believes in his party and its policy is
necessarily n partisan, and should be
proud of being so. Lot ward jugglers
twist the term as they may, it will still
| always convey to the thinking. ration
al mind the significance that properly
belongs to it. for without parts anship
there can be no such things as politics.
no competition for the honor OF con-
TT buting to the highest and fullest
| advancement of the country interest.