The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-06-27
The Ethics of Boiling.

Harper's Weekley, for June 20, has an ar
ticle on ''The Ethics of Bolting,' the sub
stance of which is that delegate to con.
vention can afford to surrender his convictions
upon matters of minor importance and accept
majority rule. but his duty TO himself and his
country is to bolt convention and work fol
the nominees of another party should ma
ioritv decide against his honest convictions
upon matters of prime importance.
Ifthat were the rule of conduct in public
affairs chaos would soon reign. There would
be no parties and no responsibility. A
delegate ought to be n representative of the
people who make him their spokesman, not
a representative of himself, and he and his
constituents should acquiesee in the will OF the
majority.
Parties are composed ofpeople having same
or similar views Every principle and policy
of a party may not have the hearty endorse
ment of every member of it, but upon funda-
mental doctrine there is substantial unity.
Men ally themselves with that party whose
general fundamental principles they endorse.
1t is only through party organization that
principles can be applied to government. If
every man is to bolt nominations when his
party declaration is distasteful to him upon
some particular issue, he virtually forieits his
right to membership and ought not to be
trusted in a representative capacity again un-
til he shows that fealty to party which would
entitle him to confidence. The man who is
above party is possessed of pride of opinion
that makes him an uncertain quantity and
entitled 10 no weight in party affairs. Such
a man has no place in any party. He is SIM
ply hoater, voting with one party this year
and with another next. Harper's Weekly
itself is an uncertain quantity. LISA bolter'
and hence its desire to have all people believe
in boiling. 1t bolted the nomination OF
Blaine. For years it was radical Republi-
can journal. 1t opposed the nomination OF
Blaine, and when the majority Of It's party
nominated the ''Tattooed Statesman. rs ii
designated Mr.. Blaine, it supported Mr..
Cleveland. 1t has been a Cleveland Journal
ever since, for Cleveland has bad three Pres
idential nominations. 1t would surrender its
tariff for revenue convictions, however, and
support Mckinley should the Chicago plat
form declare for the money of the coustitu
ton, gold and silver, although it says McKin
ley is VIGOROUSLY unfit for President and is
the great apostle of Protection. Itplaces the
currency question above all others and would
swallow Mckinley, Protection and Force
Bill in order TO have its peculiar notion of 4
single gold standard prevail.
The man who takes part in primaries and
conventions consents to abide by majority rule
by that action, and is in honor bound to sup
port the party nominees. The man who i.
not willing TO acquiesce in majority rule
should not take part in primaries and
conventions, and by no means should be
trusted in representative capacity. Har-
per's Weekly is an Independent, mugwump
journal, that is like a spoiled child, that will
not play unless its games are accepted. II
would have all its readers follow its course,
but it has ceased to be much of factor in
American politics, just as a number of Other
journals styling themselves independent
have lost circulation and influence.