The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-03-19
Principles, or Men:

ing the principles involved is too great.
In our government each voter has a
right to express his opinions upon
questions concerning the welfare of
the nation. This opinion, expressed at
the ballot box, becomes authoritative.
Every man is sovereign, and has the
privilege of using his authority. Wheth-
er he should be influenced by the prin-
ciples involved, or by the men who are
to represent him, is question OF no
little Importance, and one which can be
answered only in an indefinite way AS
our government is representative,
man in voting must consider the man
and principles. The man who repre-
sents the voter is the one who actually
determines the policy of the govern
ment, therefore one should vote for
man not for personal reason, but be-
cause he advocates principle in which
the voter believes. A man who thinks
that certain dominant issue should
be decided in one way, and votes for
man who, in power, will decide it in
way altogether different, is not true to
himself nor true to his country. No
one can afford to sacrifice principle for
personal considerations. The ballot
becomes meaningless when it does not
express an opinion. TO vote becomes
criminal act when the ballot supports
principle contrary to the honest con-
victions of the voter This is true, be-
cause it is the duty as we'll as the priv
ilege of every free American citizen to
participate in the management of the
government, and if in the performance
of this duty he uses his authority to de-
feat what he considers to be the best
thing for the government, his action is
criminal.
This question, however, often be-
comes very much complicated. A pc.
litical party enunciated principle,
and then nominated an unworthy man
to champion it's cause, and the party
tant issue dominates a man of unblem-
ished character and unquestioned in
tegrity. In such case, and in fact in
all cases, circumstances must be con-
sidered before mans duty can be de-
termined. The welfare of his country
is the thing for him to consider. If
&c n inn 70 M
and the nominee of the party advocat-
ing your principles is more likely to adj
vance the interests of the government
by carrying into effect this principle
than by his immortality to bring it into
disrepute, then voter may conscien-
tiously cast his ballot for him. If, on
the other hand, there is but little differ
ence in the positions taken by two pO-
| litical parties, voter should carefully
consider the men proposed by the par.
ties. No one can establish an unvary-
ing rule by which this question may be
decided, but observation indicates some
points worthy of consideration. If a
party clearly defines its position upon
question under dispute, and boldly
faces the issue, it's nominee is generally
worthy of support if man of princi
pie. If a party lodges the issue upon
an important question, it generally
finds leader who will dodge before
and after election. So if the political
parties define their principles clearly a
man may safely vote for the principles
which he endorses. If they refuse to
meet the issue fairly, it is we'll to con
slider the men, and what each is likely
to do if he is elected.
But, we hear men say that it is nee
essary to be loyal to your party. They
say that it is not right to vote against
the nominees of the party if one has
participated in the primary election OF
convention. Party machinery is nee
essary, and the time for voter to in
quire about the qualifications of a man
is before he is nominated by his poIiti
cal party. If the adherents of party
do not take part in the nominating con
vention and endeavor to have worthy
men nominated, they have no right te
rebuke the party by voting against the
nominee, whom by their silence they
have endorsed. But if man partici
pates in the primary and uses his eff
forts to secure the nomination of the
best men and the endorsement of SOUND
principles he has performed his duty
and therefore has right to rebuke his
party and to seek elsewhere that which
his party has refused to give him. AnC
if every man would do his duty before
party nominations are made this ques
ton of principles, or Men" would