River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-10-09
ABOUT PARTY POLITICS.
A Great Political Truth UttereI by SEN
ator Ingalls, of Kansas.

A Great Political Truth Uttered by SEN
ator Ingalls, of Kansas.
1t is quite true, as Senator Ingalls, o.
serves, that in popular representa-
tive form of Government, political
parties are indispensable. They are
the only agencies through which public
sentiment can be developed and applied
TO practical uses. The will of the
people is the law above all other laws,
and it is by means of parties alone that
this supreme force can have sway. 1t
follows, therefore, that every citizen
should be a partisan in the sense of
striving TO promote the success of that
o ganization which best represents his
views and feelings. The idea of '.yoI-
ing in the air" is false and per1icious
one. No man has right to throw
away his influence as an elector, or to
leave the work of choosing officers and
policies to others while he sits in the seat
of the scornful and censorious. No party
is perfect in its principles, or practices.
but it is better to belong to one of them
and to labor in its behalf than. 10 turn
away from them all and be a mere spec
tator of their proceedings. The two great
BAAbAG III OuA NOdhtIA SIdu0
respectively for the affirmative and
negative of all important questions and
every citizen can find in the creed of
one or the other of them enough of
what he considers political truth to
justify him in giving it his support
One Or the other is Iound to rule. and it
is incumbent upon all voters to act
with one or the other in a decided and
effective manner.
There are those who think it proof
of independence to stand aloof and dis
parage partisan activity; but such con-
duct is in fact proof of doubtful pa
triotism and unworthy citizenship. All
men are supposed to have political
views, and they should see to it that
those views are so expressed as to serve
a practical purpose. 1t is not necessary
10 be an office-seeker in order to be
politician. Every man has the right to
seek office when so inclined, but it
should not require an incentive of that
sort TO make him active in politics. His
obligations are such that he can not af-
ford to stay on the fence and gaze in
differently at the operations by which
parties test their strength and deter
mine what sentiments shall prevail in
the administration of public affairs. 1t
is proper for him to be partisan, be-
cause it is partisanship that says how
the country shall be governed The
Government is the party in power, truly
speaking. Laws arc formulated in ac-
cordance with the iatestexpressiono of the
popular viii, which is nothing more nor
less chan decision in favor of one par
ty and against another. There is no
way to arrange it otherwise. The par
ties are all-powerful, and the welfare of
the Nation depends upon them ALSO
lutely. So it is hardly too much 70 say
that the strongest partisan is the most
consistent and faithful citizen. provided
always that he is honest in his opinions
and practices. lie entertains certain
beliefs, and be tries his best 10 enforce
them. This is not his privilege. simply,
5ut his duty: and the more active he is
such service the more credit he de-
serves.-St Louis Globe-Democrat.