The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-12-21
slTnRDAY,.. DECEMBER II, 1895.
SjfFaAis IS A c0SfIfUflOkAL tlGAl,
MOI A POLITICAL !aIYlLsG&.

. N. l, Is hot The writer \ purpose 10
eulogise advocates, nor to censnre oppo-
nenl., out to submit facts to a candid
worll, and trnst to Americanism for a
candi decision, BECAUSE fairness, and IA
willingness to protecl the rights OF every
citizen alike. is n of our dominant
characteristics. Politics, since the early
colonial period, has been a national pur-
suit. Every two years I.le ISSUES OF the
ca npaign ARE the subject matter OF con
yarsation throughout the Union. Moth
4ls ID a greater fallacy tina the IDEA that
tie people are losing interest III politics.
although there is an ~unpardoffahie d.
Lression from the true line OF American
i leas, yet the proportion OF votes to vo-
tiers, moves in comparatively even scale;
the number OF men willing to be elect
ell to Office, has never fallen OIL, and,
nov that WON IN are asking Tor equal
political rights, there is a ponderous I'M
rest in the min Is oi many, lest women
TOO, will be o,ice seekers. But fortu-
nately, there are only a certain number
Offices, from president to constable, an
womsn will nave TO stand the test of the
majority vote, on the same terms as
nien, hence this reform in Il political
lie like all others, will be seif-regula-
ting. There is DO imminent danger OF
national affairs being turned ''topsy tur-
vey,"-the sun will rise III tile east, and
ret in the west, just as ~glortously NJ II
men held the exclusive right OF the frap-
ciIise.
Mo tot our political writer's are agreed
that this is the one nation in the great
family OF nations in which force oil char
acl and the dare t, do" traits count
tue most, AMI the accident of birth
counts the least. Ii matters not so much
who, or what, your ancestors may have
i,een, as what you really are yourself,
tlat counts most IN public, or private
lifs. Though Americans have an over
fondness for bold, striking effect, IA pre-
terence for large generalties, and more
prone than other people ITO accept COM
ing in first, " as all The victory, whether
it lie in sports, or in the more serious
affairs Oh self-government, they have
contributed most to the world 5 stock OF
political AMI progressive ideas. Ii We
are not successful in politics then, 1t will
be from IL misapp licaSlon oi the p,lltl-
cal, and the progressive ileas, not from
want OF them. Another noteworthy
trait is the gool nature that peryades
political discussions, public AMI private,
and the amount ii abdse opponents toll
crate iron each other is prnyerhal OF
American politicians. When the major
ity vote has decided the contest,
average politicians will shake hands over
the result, AM each 90 his way in
peace. This practice of forgetting diff
f~erences and smoothing over small mat
tiers, for sake OF harmony i'll greater
ones, have made Americans AS inventive
in politics as they are in mechanics,
and for this reason we have the strong
est party organizations iii the worli. In
Tact they have become too strong, fol
the spirit of party dominates over the
spirit OF patriotism. IL is my party
ri hit or wrong, not my country. 10
bolt the party no matter lIoS bad the
nominations, is thought by many sounc
minded men-treason. This is one OF thu
most fatal of American characteristics
because it runs all the way through oul
political life.
Suffrage is a Constitutional right in
our national life, which was ordained
and establi shed as the wisest and safes
means of protecting the citizen individ
ually, and the people collectively. Tina
women are citizens has long since beer
decided, to be one OF the self-eviden'
truths. Art. l, Sec. 2 of the Nationa
Constitution devolyes the choice o
representatives upon the people
hence they are deprived without
legal cause, OF the first right o
citizenship, viz, the right of suffrage.
This is making suffrage a political priv
lege of the men people, instead OF the
unconstitutional right OF the whole PEG.