The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-23
REPUBLICAN, RESPONSIBILITY.

In American politics the party defeated
at the polls may, if it choose, retire from
political work and wait until the next
campaign opens; with the party in power,
however, the reverse is true; that party
must be vigilant and active to have it's
pledges carried out by its representatives
in office. To it applies the wisdom of the
proverb, "make hay while the sun Shines"
1t cannot ignore a single political issue.
1t is responsible to the people for good
government and cannot shift or evade that
responsibility without paying the penalty
at the next election.
The truth of its responsibility to the peo-
pie in this way cannot be too strongly en-
forced upon the Republican party of San
Francisco. The demand of the progressive
element of the community for public i'm
provements, makes it imperative that the
City Government should show itself worthy
to be intrusted with such work and capable
of carrying it forward with energy and
economy. 1t is known that the City Gov
eminent is under Republican control, and
if there is any failure in the Government to
fulfill the expectations of good citizens and
public spirited men, the whole party will
be sure to suffer the effects of that disap-
pointment and will enter the next cam
paign with loss of prestige that will
greatly endanger its chances of success.
Those officials who represent the Repub-
lican party on the Board of Supervisors
and in other City ana County offices, are
particularly charged with the duty of keep
ing the party pledges. They should bear
in mind they were not elected on their
individual popularity. They were elected
because they were nominated by the Re-
publican party and recommended to the
people as men who could be relied upon to
fulfill every pledge made in the Republican
platform. 1t was the strength of the party
organization, the influence and arguments
of the party press and the cordial support
of all loyal Republicans, that gave them
Office; and therefore if they have either
manly honor or ordinary political wisdom
they will respond to the demands of the
party, be true to their campaign promises
and keep faith with the people.
The responsibility of power, however,
is not confined solely to those who hold
Office. The leaders of the Republican
party, the great Republican clubs and the
stalwart Republican newspapers that
urged the people and the taxpayers to
elect these men to Office also owe some
thing to the community. They should
give every Republican official fair warn
ing that he will not find any party sup
port if he breaks his pledges, and on the
other hand they should give him every
commentator and assurance of support
if he will keep them.
These truths must not be lightly set
aside as commonplace. They are peril
nent to the issues before us. They con-
Germ the practical affairs of the City. They
refer to matters of present interest. 1t is
by applying them that the Republican
party can give to the people of San Fran
cisco a good government and set forth
upon the work of municipal Improvement
with the confidence and support of the tax
payers. The CALL speaks for the whole
community when it demands that the rep
resentatives of the Republican party, in
office or out of office, shall bear in mind
the great responsibilities imposed upon it
by the confidence of the voters at the last
election, and shall be diligent so long as it
has the power, to use it for the public well
fare, for progress, for economy and for
improvement.