Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-25


Throughout our history one party has in
yariably attracted the best men-Hamil
ton and Adams in one era, Clay and Web
ster in another, Lincoln and Grant in q
third. But it Is only because it has beer
the repository of the great inspiring ma
tiOnal principle as opposed to the narrow
ing deadening, barbarizing local or triba
principle. If 1t is to continue to attract
the best men the party, the principle
must be at all times and In all exigen.
cies upheld with this sole requirement In
the temporary personalities of its organ.
lied leadership, that they be clean and
honorable in private life: that they be
Republican in public principle, and that
they should present the best men of the
party for the suffrages of the people. Nc
other leadership in organization Is pre-
scented to the Republicans of New York
| today. AS to the leadership in candidacy
it is. without the possibility of argument
| the highest ever offered to the municipal
electorate of New York. General Tracy no;
merely leads his competitors In qualities
for public service. He "outclasses" them
But were he otherwise. were he of the
candidates are usually picked. the duty
would be the same. That which the UNI
| thinking call blind devotion to party is
the national, the racial instinct of liberty.
Nonpartisanship.
| tEOTtlaTu ExpIeSSJ
The political reforms which have been
| accomplished in this country have not
| been the work of non-partisans. Free
| soil agitation was begun by pioneers who
| Were the fcrcest of partisans, and the
great act of freeing the slaves was the
| deed of man who did not scorn to be
| known as a Republican and party man.
| So in the history of the country. from
that day to this. the reforms which have
been accomplished have been secured by
| Republicans acting within and with the
| organization. The resumption of specie
| payment in 1879 was accomplished by John
Sherman. Republican of Republicans,
| backed up by an undivided party. The
laws establishing civil service reform
were passed by a Republican Congress
| and received the signature OF Republic
can president. The Mckinley tariff law
which gave the country the greatest pc
riod of prosperity in its history was the
work of Republicans and included an i'm
portant extension of the principle of pro-
lection suggested by the grandest of Re
publicans, the illustrious Blaine.
Men have led the way. but it has been
through the medium of party organiZa-
ton that the work has been done. and
it is to the same party and the same or
ganization to which We must look for
the accomplishment of such reforms as
are needed at the present time.
For some unknown reason it seems to
have become fad nowadays to sheer at
party organization and to hold up as
specially meritorious such citizens as re-
gard party lines but slightly No sooner
does the organization in New York de-
eide upon a candidate than the cry OF the
independent press. most of which
draws its sustenance from Republican
sources. cry out that Platts man has
been chosen and If elected the official
in question will be pulled around by the
nose by the New York senator. Even
man whose character and record are as
spotless as those of Gen B. f. Tracy does
not escape the slurring imputation.
though any one who knows anything
knows that Gen. Tracy. if elected mayor
of New York, will be nobody's man but
his own.
There is danger that this fad of sneer-
ing at party organizations will work
harm in Republican ranks. The Repub
licans have been able to win in our city.
county. district and State because of a
magnificent organization established
years ago and kept up with greater or
less fathfulness and intelligence to the
present time. To men who are really
Republicans the Importance of keeping
up the organization is apparent Believ
ing in good government it is also be-
lieved that the best government will be
furnished by Republicans who know
what the people need. who are anxious to
serve them and who understand that not
only their personal reputation but the
standing of the party which they repre-
sent will suffer through any malfeasance
of their own. To bring the matter down
to our own circle We as Republicans. are
sure that Portland the first congress
sional district and the State have been
better served by public servants who have
been chosen because of their Republican,
ism and have been elected by the organ
ization than they would have been had
the opposite party won for the most part
during the past two decades. or had nom
partisanship. so called. ruled, and blood
less no party men represented the people
in the city council, the Legislature and
Congress.
Call the work OF the organization ina
chine politics" If you WILL but it must be
acknowledged that the results have been
good in both local and national affairs.
Republicans will do well to watch the
apostles of non-partisanship,' particu-
larly those who claim to be in accord
with them in politics. If we are right
and the principles of Republicanism are
those under which it is best for our coun-
try to continue then we do not do our full
duty when we fail to give hearty support
to the organization in it's battles He is
not a good Republican who prates of the
beauties of mugwumpery and slack party
lines.