Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-02-09

he has it. One of them is mistaken
or it may be that the whole truth j,
not with either But many of th,
New Party Surgeons would have the
world believe. that they have an almost
iniallible knowledge of the result Of al
treatment Of the subject: and i they
hay" been practitioners Of she old
school. for a long time. their sudden
change of conduct" does not, in the
least affect their confidence in the
iniallibility of their knowledge oI
consequences, il rather inteusifies it.
1t seems never to occur to them, that
having been the victims of an awfu
delusion for years, as To their own
feelings and conduct" il might be
possible for them now to be the within.
of a mistake Of judgment.
The second defect in our brother,
armor is in the fact that he fails tt
discriminate between the party as AT
organization, and the individual mem
bers Of it; rs though each member
were mere cog in the wheel. and hat
no motion, will. power or thought. in
dependent OF the wheel.
We exclude from our consideration
machine politics" and treat Of par
ties, as organizations Of men whost
great aim is good government on al
lines, and the promotion of the inal
ienable rights,-"lifc, liberty and the
pursuit Of happiness" s." 1t would be a
remarkable organization, whether q
political party, Il state. or Church
in which .alr" the members thereof
endorsed all Of the policy, principles
and acts Of that organization. 1t tncver
has been 80, from the foundation OF the
world and SO long as there are "many
men of many minds" and crring mind:
at that. with the right and courage to
think. speak and act according to their
individual convictions, so long no such
organization ever will or can exist.
There are numerous illustrations oi
this in the Apostolic Church. both in
regard to doctrine and practice The
dispute over the Mosaic method, or
plan. OF salvation, waxed so warm,
that the Apostles and Elders found il
necessary TO meet at Jerusalem to con.
slider questions of faith and practice,
when certain of the converted Phari.
sees taught, Except We be circumcis.
ed after the manner of Moses, We eau.
not be saved" There was much dis
putting not an unusual occurrence
among preachers OF other periods.
Take our own Methodist Episcopal
Church. Are there not many of her
divimes who differ quite radically. il
not essentially, Oh some scriptural doc,
trines? And are there not those in
high authority who are accused! OF
exercising arbitrary, il not unwarrant
eel power? And are there not radical
differences Of opinion on certain line.
oi church polity? Yet we count our
selves and those who differ with us
friends of the Church nor do we will,
draw our membership because OF ihes,
differences Of doctrine and practice.
Take our Government. of which w,
are citizens, Notwithstanding our diff
ierent political views Neither of "a
approve all its policies or practices =
and yet none OF us withdraws his citi
zcnship, or expatriates himself and w
consider ourselves friends" of goo,
government. though hostile TO some o
its policies. and more 80 To the prac
tices of some Of our lawmakers.
The great aim Of all church organi
zations is the promotion of righteous
ness, the chief aim of all political par
ties is good government. and the ain
of all good government is the promo
ton Of the peace, prosperity and hap
piuess of its citizens OH all lines.
The purpose OF the above illustra
tions is to show thst "all men VIII
vote with the old parties do no
adopt or approve of all the piaJo,7
piatitutics laid down by conventions
nor feel themselves bound thereby
and still less do they approve all tn
practices of their elected representa-
tives, whether executive, Legislative o
judicial. This has been forcibly illu.
trated by two recent elections; til
Presidential election of 1892. and th
State and Congressional elections 4
1894.
\ platform contains not simply ON
Unn'i.rcd, dbstrdct proposition but it i
an embodiment Of many complicated
involved principles, some of whicl
often lie at the very basis OF govern
ment and the casting of Il vote, un
less %. the subject of adopting oc re
lecting constitution. or on SOM
subject matter submitted to the voter
on the local option plan, involves tn
voting for Il person; ana this involve
the voting tor character. learning
ability aud fitness, often IA matter .
more Importance than a platform.
Does il follow that IA vote Tor th
candidate oi Il party makes that vote
favor, adopt and pledge himself TO al
that is said in the party platform, an,
n