Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-09-05

sleep the sleep in which they knew they
would rest"
Some Practical Thoughts as TO the Duty
Of the American Citizen.
While the Northwestern sincerely be-
lieves that the future prosperity of the
country will be best served by voting
the Republican ticket, and that the prin-
ciples of the Republican party embody
the nearest approach to political wisdom
that Americans have yet reached, still it
looks upon the dOings of those who do not
agree with it not without some degree
OF philosophical cOmplacency. For exam
pie. in July. when the Debs strike was
paralyzlng business and the foundation
OF good government seemed to be Shak-
ing. this paper said that laboring men who
felt dissatisfied with existing political
conditions were at perfect liberty to take
up the ballot and by its use to change the
political complexion of the country if they
could. They would be in much better
business organizing themselves for work
ut the polls than in plotting strikes and
.nsurrections against constituted author
Ity. To take that part in political discus
sions, attend political caucuses and pri-
mary meetings and to work according to
ones political convictions and for the
election of candidates pledged to such
principles is not only the right Of every
voter, but it is also his duty. This paper
has frequently urged people of all political
beliefs to take an interest in political mat
ters and aid by their presence and assist
ance the PRONUNCIATION of correct prin-
ciples. When political meetings are
largely attended and general interest is
felt in the successes of political principles,
we are far more likely to get good men
elected than when caucuses are manipu-
lated by q few, professionals and the ring
gets in its work. These assertions hold
true in regard to any political Organiza-
ton. Republican, Democratic, Populist
or Prohibition.
In the coming election in this state we
shall have each of the organizations hard
at work, with four tickets in the field.
Notwithstanding the melancholy failure
of the temperance party in this state, as
confessed by its Oshkosh organ. it again
has a ticket in the field, and it's friends
will once more cast their votes for the
nominees as the representatives of a prin-
ciple, and not with any hope Of e~lecting
their candidates. So, in Il great measure,
it must be with the labor ticket. Its
friends will work hard and great pains
will be taken TO get every friend of the
workingman's cause to the polls. but
none of them will have the slightest hope
of e~lecting White Beaver to the govern
or's chair. They will vote the ticket, not
with the expectation of electing it, but
as a rebuke to the older parties.
The result of the election of 1894, like
that of all the great elections in the past
twenty years, VIII Ut uSclO6u Dv the CNO
older parties. To be a Prohibitions or
a POpulist is to throw away your vote.
1t IS adherence to a principle, no doubt,
and very heroic and praiseWOrthy, in u
certain sense, but it is not practical bust
ness. To be a Republican or a Democrat
is to actually take part i'll the machinery
of government. A man who votes for
Maj. Upham or Gov. Peck, if he is the
Democratic candidate, does his share to-
ward making the next administration.
His man may not be elected, but he will
have the satisfaction of knowing that his
vote will be counted and that it will
form one of a vast number that made up
the total. On the other hand, a man
might as well vote for George Washington
or Andrew Jackson or Abraham Lincoln
as to vote for Capt. Cleghorn or White
Beaver Powell. 1t is Il vote for a princi-
pie, they say. BY the same reasoning,
a vote for George Washington would be a
vote for a principle, for George Washing
ton was one of the purest of men and there
is just as much chance of electing him
as there is of electing Powell or Cleghorn.
A little thoughtful consideration of this
subject on the part of intelligent temper
ance men and ~WOrkingmen will lead them
to see the folly of wasting their votes.
While a mans vote, as the exponent of
his principles, is sacred and should be cast
exactly as he wants it to go, yet every
man should exercise his best Judgment
and discretion in casting his vote. The
strength of our government lies in the fact
that 1t rests upon an intelligent con-
s~tituency, and when every voter reads,
thinks and acts for himself, we shall nave
purer politics and better men in office.
Inc present is an important crisis in the
affairs of our country. Such 4 depres-
sion in business and such 1t gloomy out
look has never before been known. |. is
quite plain to even a casual observer that
the action of the present administration
at Washington is largely responsible for
1t. At the election in November every
voter will be called upon to decide wheth-
er he will change the character of the
Congress and bring about Il change.-Osh-
kosh Northwestern.
Some Pointers Worth Reading
Musical instruments are claSsed as Eek
plosiyes' in the new tariff bib, and by the