The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-02-25
LOYALTY AND LEADERSHIP.

ing mapped out, let us begin with mu-
tual respect for all partisans who differ
with us. Of course they are hopeless
ly wrong in their opinions and ideas,
but we are not going to make them
vote our ticket by abusing or ridicul-
ing them, or traducing their cherished
traditions or their leaders. Don't lose
your temper, don't exaggerate or lie.
1t is possible to be good fighter for
your party, and yet keep all the COM
mandments.
That "All the World loves lover"
is not more true than the general prop
osition that all the world loves the
lover of principle. And if the world
loves the constant lover of an unworthy
object the wife who clings devotedly
to brute of husband, Or the hus-
band who is just as devotedly loyal to
wife with sour temper and from
whom the charms of youth have long
since departed-in short, if personal
or domestic loyalty is admirable, 10y
atty to party should not be subject
of ridicule. As an exchange tersely
puts it, better fighting rebel, than
a stay home mugwump." We have
a higher opinion of a hard-hitting
democrat or alliance man than of
republican :;ho keeps away from the
polls for fear Of contamination in the
dirty pool OF politics.
***
But when it comes to partisan 10y
atty, the question constantly aries, who
are the party9 AS illustrations, are
those in the alliance ranks who kick
against the leadership of Donnelly and
Fish disloyal? Were those republicans
in this county who revolted against
Merriam and Petersen, or are those
democrats who refuse to follow Kelly
and Doran, disloyal? Decidedly not,
in our opinion. Under our systematic
fighter in the party ranks has voice
in choosing his leader, and if dicta
tor gets command by fraud or cum
ming, the voter has right, though he
keeps in the ranks and fights for his
cause, to do all in his power to dis
mount his unworthy leader.
*
The recent division in the democrat
ic organization of New York state, is a
case for the ultra orthodox in party
matters. All disinterested outsiders
approve the position of those demo-
Gratis who protest against the action of
Senator Hills henchmen in overriding
the rights of the minority. Yet the
sympathy of Republicans for Clevc-
lands followers is moderated some
what over the fact that the latter, only
a few weeks ago, were loud in their
approval OF Hills high handed action
in freezing out a legitimate Republic
an majority in the legislature by legal
chicanery and political trickery. What
is good sauce for the Republican
goose ought to be sauce for the anti
Hill Democratic gander.
*
The fact is, all party managers will
bear watching by the rank and file.
Take our last reform movement, in
the first flush and purity of it's youth.
Haven't our reformers missed it slight
ly in becoming as clay in the hands of
Donnelly and Fish? Are they SO much
better or purer in their motives than
Kelly and Doran, or Merriam and
Sabin? Or to come nearer home, how
many master minds shape the policy
of the alliance movement in Redwood
county-can they not be counted on
the fingers of a single hand?
*
The truth is apparent, that leaders
are necessary to any organization, po-
litical or otherwise, and the only ques-
ton is, what kind of leaders shall we
follow.