New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-06-10
THE SENATORSHIP.

THE SENATORSHzP.
In considering the question of senator
ial succession which is now agitating the
papers of the state, the Review would
call attention to an article which ap-
peared in the last issue of this paper,
relative TO leaders. In that article spe-
cial stress was given to the fact that
leaders were the offspring of the hour,
while great reforms and principles were
the outgrowth of steady and continuous
1nQyements among the people. Reforms
TO succeed must possess strength in
themselves; leaders must simply be
part of the general movement. And
80 1t is with political parties. While
the Republicans of Minnesota may hold
in highest esteem the superior abilities
and learning of e. K. Davis, it must
nevertheless be understood that
men do not make parties, but
that issues do. The former may
achieve greatness through advocacy of
the party's principles, but the moment
that the party loses sight of the pur.
poses for which it was born, and be.
comes enamourcd with the success, or
bent upon the overthrow of any one
man, it begins to weaken. These are
general plecepts, and, while in no way
indicating the preferences Of this paper
regarding the senatorship, are not to be
ignored. Mr.. Heatwole, of the North
field News, who is leading the opposi-
ton to Senator Davis, may not have
proper motive in desiring the defeat of
that gentleman, but, be that as it may,
he has given good reasons for saying
that the party should not be subordi-
mated to individuals. To encourage one
man worship, causing people to believe
that there is but one person in this en-
tire state who is capable of representing
us with credit, is to cast wet blanket
upon the people themselves. 1t is caus-
ing them to lose faith in the cause for
which they labor, and in the idea that
it is the masses themselves that render
possible every achievement in favor of
reform. A more important service is
awaiting the attention of Republicans
in this state, and the cause of Mr.. Davis
should not stand in the way of its &C
complishment. That service lies in the
defeat Of our enemies, and the estab-
lishment of Republican principles on
tirmer and more popular basis than
ever. When that is done, the little
family quarrels that now exist within
the party will no doubt be amicably
settled. Davis will then be reelected
if he has performed the duties for which
he WAS chosen, and if it should develop
that he has not, someone, equally able,
will spring from among the people to
fill his place. The party in all cases
should be above its members.
The Review would not predict that
the new party, which had its god-fath-
ers in men Of the stripe of Donnelly, will
not cut a figure in the next election
The chances are that it will. Nothing,
that we know of, has turned up to
clear the world of men who have eyes
but do not see and ears but do
not hear, and to all appearances
there are just as many men to-day who
do not take the tine to do their own
thinking as there ever were. From all
such, the new party can expect sup
port. 1t will draw strength from the
advocates of every ism, from the dis
contented, who are satisfied with moth
ing that is, from the oppressed who
imagine that all evils can be corrected
and all burdens removed by the mere
enactment of laws, and from all those
who in their own minds are satisfied
that they have solved all social prob
lens and hope that in the new party
they will have a chance to put into
practice political theories that will new
er work, Add to the contributions
from all these sources, the soreheads of
the old parties, who fail to see the
statesmanlike and honest efforts of Mr..
Blaine and Mr.. Harrison, steady and
firm amidst the yelpings Of the discon-
tents, and the new party. becomes a
mingled and curious aggregation, ignor.
ant of its own purposes, but still, for a
time at least, an important factor in,
politics, capable Of much evil and no
good.
That the new party willie accomp-
lish any reforms, the marks of disinte-
grafton, which were evident at its
launching, and the conflicting ideas,
that were juggled together so as to eff
feet an organization, will in themselves
t. IL ~, ~,