San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-02-09
CLOSE UP THE RANKS.

CLOSE UP THE RANKS.
The republican party has but one
object In view, this year of grace
1892. and that is to recover the ground
lost In 1890 and retain control of the
executive branch of the government.
To the accomplishment of this pur-
pose all else should be subordip atsd.
Every thinking republican will, as q
necessity of the situation, have his in
dividual preferences as to whom he
would select to represent him in con-
gress, as to whom he could support
for president. This Is his individual
right, and for its exercise he is not to
be called into question. This indi-
vidual right conceded, the next and
necessary thing to do is to UNDER
stand the limitations of this individ.
al right, and to accurately determine
when 1t is to be subordinated to the
will of the party, or voluntarily sur
rendered to secure party success. The
repu blican who allows his personal
preferences to thrust themselves in
and create discord, when otherwise
there would be harmony in party
councils, is not q true republican, for
he is giving aid and comfort to the
enemies of his party. The republican
party stands for something distinct
In the national life and policy, and it
is the triumph of this distinctive thing |
that is the object sought, not the sue
cess of any particular person. Just
as In the army 1t is the victory over
the common enemy that is sought
and not the promotion of any general,
so in the political campaign it is the
party triumph that is the one thing
desired. The reserve forces, or q
foreign contingent far from the field
Of battle. are not as we'll posted as to
the necessities of the hour as the |
troops In actual fight, and it Is not
wisdom that these remote legions
should decide questions of general
ship, when they are not able to aid in
the battle. Tnis principle
mas found recognition in political
and while the right of
,very state to its vote In the national
ton Is freely conceded 1t is not
wisdom to force a nomina-
ion through the votes of states that
'annot aid in the election of the can
iidate thus nominated. The right to
10 30 is not denied. but the wisdom
# such q course most assuredly is.
Texas, in the last national re-
publican convention, divided her
orces and one division tried TO
Orce the nomination of q small
candidate, when they knew
hat Texas could not add one single
'ote to the republican column in the
lectoral college. This was not wise.
t was a grave mistake, and one to be
.uarded against this year. The states
hat have to bear the burden of the
ontest, by whose votes the candidate
3 10 be elected, If elected at all, are
he states that best know who is the
trongest man before the voters of
hose states, and their opinion should
lot be overridden by the votes of
tates that cannot help one hair In
he election of the nominee whom
hey have forced upon the party.
Texas this year must redeem herself
rom that error, and the best prepare
ion for such redemption will be the
of her state convention
hat Texas has no candidate, but that
The man who is the strongest before
the repu blicsn and the doubtful
states is the candidate that she favors.
If Texas republicans do this they
will make no mistake.
4 L II