Arizona republican., 1892-04-12
VOICE AND vOTE.

siderable extent of expressing presiden- tial preferences at primary caucuses is good one. It deserves to be encour- not needful, perhaps not best, to pass by vote ironclad instructions. Men who are selected to represent the mem- bers of party in any locality at a con vention called to choose delegates to a national convention may fairly be pre- stunned to possess the requisite iudg- ment and fidelity to take right action in any emergency that may arise. Nevertheless, the voters also have their own inalienable rights within their party, and one of the most sacred of these is the right to make their indi- vidual sentiments known upon matter vitally affecting the party's and the country's welfare.
 There are two great advantages that may be expected to ensue from the general adoption of the practice we have alluded to. The first of these is that when at length the National con
  ble guide to it's deliberations. What is a nominating convention for? Not surely to take leap in the dark. Certainly not to follow blindly or whimsically the personal feelings of the delegates there assembled. They are delegates. Their authority is derived from those who send them. The ultimate basis of all authority is the plain people. It is reasonable, it is wise, it is salutary for the wishes of the people to be known as clearly as possible in advance. If there is found to be substantial consensus of popular opinion within the party in fayor of any one man for the highest office Tn tine gift of the people, that fact ought to have an immense-ordinarily it will have jecisive-infuence in de- termining the choics of the convention. If substantial differences of popular feeling manifest themselves at the primaries the conventions task will be more difficult. but less 80 than would be the case if the voice of the multitude had never been heard.
 The second benefit is in strengthening the party by awakening it's individual interest. Who can doubt that men will try harder to elect candidate in whose nomination they have everyone had tangible share, than can be expected where this stimulus is wanting? Even when ones declared preference has been set aside, he is more loyal member of the party for having expressed it, for he knows that others have simply exercised the same privilege on different line, and that where an honest divergency exists it is out of the question for all t, have their own way. He feels that, at any rate, he has had fair chance and so is ready to abide by the result. The best thing that can happen to the party of progress is for every one of its vot- CTS to be one of it's managers, in the sense of helping, according to his place and opportunity, to shape the party's action. II every Republican in the United States were to attend the pri. mary meetings this year it would add countess tnousands or votes to the Re- publican cause next November. Noth- ing else would do so much to make the caucuses interesting, to make voters who are not politicians feel that it is worth while attending these local gath erings, as the consciousness that they can then and there take a hand directly in saying what name shall be at the head of the presidential ticket. There fore Ing REPUBLICAN counsels every preliminary gathering of Republicans in these early days of the campaign to speak out on the question that most vltally concerns the party as a whole. Every American citizen is in politics equally entitled to his voice and his vote. Le: him take care to withhold neither.