The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-10-05
Professors in Politics.

There are two extreme views Of the
duty Of the voter 10 the party with which
he in general co-operates, or to which he
is sometimes said to belong. One is that
his personal responsibility as TO the char
acter of candidates ends when the nomi
nation Is made. Then loyalty to his par
ty requires that he shall vote even for ar
unworthy candidate. To do otherwise, i
is said, is putting personal judgment In
the place of the common judgment and
must tend 10 demoralize the party-ever
10 the extent Of making party organiza
tion impossible. The view in the othei
extreme is that every man should hold
himself responsible for his own vote, with
out regard to any party whatsoever, lie
must vote for the best men even If he is
obliged to vote alone.
The true view doubtless lies between
these extremes. Party organization is es-
sential. Nothing in political way can
ever be accomplished without It, We
must unite with our neighbors In voting
for the best men we can agree upon; and
to accomplish this end, we must, within
reasonable limits, sacrifice our personal
preferences. The nomination by our par
ty should have weight with us. The pre-
sumption is in favor Of voting for the
nominee. The nomination ought TO carry
with il the assurance that the man is hon
est and capable, and that by his election
the public welfare will suffer no detri-
ment. But this cannot be the limit of our
personal responsibility. Ifthere is reason
to apprehend that the rominee is
disqualified by his personal character or
qualities for the duties aid responsible
ties of the place, it is the voters right and
duty TO make inquiry and to vote accord
ing to the evidence in the case in spite of
the nomination. The nominee may hold
right views In regard to all points involv-
ed il the party platform: but if his per-
sonal character or general influence be
such that his election would be detriment-
al to the best interests Of the community
neither the party nor the country can ai-
ford TO have him elected. II cannot avail
to say that the personal character or in-
fuence Of candidates is not involved In
the election. Every party Is responsible
for the respectability and worthiness OF
Its candidates, whatever its platform of
political principles. The nomination it.
self is a proclamation that the candidate
is person whom the party delights 10
honor. II there has been mistake in
this matter the true friends Of the party
will so cast their votes as 10 avert If pos
sible the calamity of his election. The
party that has not enough thoughtful and
conscientious voters to accomplish this re-
suit, is In no condition 10 be useful TO the
country. The voter who has done what
he could TO prevent the nomination of IN
unworthy candidate, has earned the right
to vote against him in the election, and be
who failed In the first duty is not thereby
released from the last-James II. Faii-
child in the Elyria Republican.
History teaches US that college pres
idents, doctors of divinity aud doctors Of
medicine seldom prove success when
they attempt to grapple with the affairs of
state: as Legislators they have almost al
ways proven dismal failures. The reason
Is plain; such matters % not, as a rule,
come within their line Of thought, there
fore, they give them little or no attention.
or the two first named, they may be able
to judge Of the merits Of moral questions,
but beyond that they should not attempt
10 fathom.