The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-11-14
A Strong Position.

has taken a strong position against
the stupid policy of the Statesman
and Pocatello Tribune in reference
to the conduct of our state officials,
and maintains itself with a vigor
and consistency rare as it is refresh
ing. We quote as follows from a
lengthy editorial in reply to the
two above-named champions of the
State officials, the article being too
lengthy to give entire:
"We are guilty of protesting a
moderate degree of political integ-
rity. That such profession is re-
pugnant to the Republican party in
Idaho, is a misfortune we deplore,
as much on account of the party as
any improper influence it may have
on the minds and conduct of the
people of the state. We became at
tached to Republicanism because
we understood that honesty was
recognized as one of its political
tenets. In this, it would seem, we
were mistaken and on account of
that mistake, by natural sequence,
we became traitor to the orthodox
element of the party. In our SIM
plicity, we conceived that parties
were organized for the express pur-
pose of furthering the welfare and
wishes of the people. This was
another lamentable error of judg-
ment. Parties in this state seem
to be fashioned for no other pur-
pose than to manipulate and de-
fraud the people; and to question
a party's right to engage in such
enterprise is traitorous; and to re-
fuse to become an accomplice to
those designs is cowardly, say our
disciplinarians. When the Enter
prise cast its fortunes with the Re
publican party, we never suspected
that in order to obtain standing and
reputation it would be necessary to
outrage every honorable sentiment
which reasonable affection for the
laws and institutions of our coun-
try awakens. We did not expect
that it would become a part of our
political duty to frame our thoughts
and expressions in conformity with
the thoughts and expressions of
any machine, combination, or pre-
tended boss. And, uhhappily, per-
haps, we are too great traitor and
coward to disappoint our early ex-
pectations.
1.-THE Enterprise has never placed
great stress on its faith in Republi-
can principles, much less on it's
fidelity to the party machine; but
we submit to every candid Repub-
lican in the State if the Enterprise
is not to-day more consistent, a
more loyal Republican than its ira
ducers? The Republican party last
fall went before the people and Sc
cured their suffrages on a promise
to give them an honorable, efficient
and economical state administra-
ton; the Enterprise became to
some extent security tor the faith
full performance of those promises,
and was induced so to do on ac-
count of it's confidence in the party.
Circumstances arise which compel
US to believe that those promises
will not be fulfilled in any degree,
and that not only our confidence
but the confidence of the people is
being abused. When those who are
directly responsible are appealed to
for explanation and exculpation,
the only answer is stolid indiffer-
ence. When the party is appealed to
and arraigned, We are met with the
charge of treason and cowardice.
Granting that our suspicious are
wrong, are they not well founded?
And has the Republican party no
other means of quieting than by
abuse and threats? If not, then we
plead guilty to the charge of aban-
doning our party and deem deser-
ton the only honorable course to
pursue. But before the end comes,
we believe that it will clearly appear
to every honest and decent repub-
lican in the state that the Enter
prise has not wavered one iota from
the principles and doctrines of Re
Every circumstance,
every word which can be produced
to prove us traitor, will establish
the disreputability of The Republi-
can party in Idaho. The Enterprise
is not brandishing its party integ-
rity, nor boasting of it's loyalty;
neither do we claim to know more
of Republican principles than any
ordinary citizen, but in all human
ity, we have nothing to fear from
either the Pocatello Tribune or
Statesman on that score. II a con-
tention ever arise between party
and pOpular welfare, we