The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-07
Republican Duty
TO Work Together

1.-THE following vigorous article was
penned by Hon. John NJ. Francis, founder
ana editor of the Troy, N. Y, lines,
two days before his DEATH and with a
few phrases logically carrying out to a
pertinent application the wise counsel
that was so to speak, Mr.. Francis part
ing message to the readers of the paper
which he created and to the members of
the party of which he had been a life
long member and defender, was published
in the Times of Sept. II, under the head
ing: Working Together" 1t is we'll
worthy of thoughtful attention every
where.l
Government is administered in this
country through partisan agencies. A
principle of public progress or a method
of procedure becomes operative in the af-
fairs of state only as it is backed by
voting force. 1t is votes that are count
ed. Votes like soldiers are massed by ag-
gregation. But this combining of units
can be accomplished only by organiza-
ton. AS is an army to a mob, so is a
party to "a leaderless band of political
''irregulars." The army system and dis
cipline concentrate and continue the at
tack through the siege to the battle The
party organization and fidelity concen-
trate and continue the effort of a cam
paign to its elimination at the polls. All
partisan organizations represent the in
stinct of preservation. Informal
though they may be in their spontaneous
beginning, they soon develop the struc-
tural formation, the spine and the ribs,
that stands for defense and the power
of persistence. 1t is sometimes amusing
to observe how quickly a new protest
against the apparatus of party becomes
piece of machinery as rigid as that
from which 1t seeded. The initiating and
perhaps self-chosen committee comes to
be as infieXibly dominating as any boss
of long years or extensive service or
large following, whom that same COM
mittee may be loudly denouncing. This
may be amusing, but 1t is not surpris-
ing. 1t is inevitable. 1t is essential to
u continuance even comparatively brief.
As 1t is the party of the majority that
impresses itself upon the public admin
istration in a country where the major
ity rules, it behooves any party wishing
the practical approval that comes with
| authority to avoid all divisive influences.
Union is strength, and unity involves
the self-restraint of minor individual
| tiles. III the military corps there must
| be the merging of the individual. All
cannot be captains. Each cannot choose
| the line of march. There must not be
| as many tactical commands as there are
men. So In party the fundamental
| principles that give the organization it's
| standing must prevail. Personal hobbies,
| which have a limited following, must be
kept in allegiance. They need not be sur
rendered as hobbies, for they may con-
| tain the seed of party principles, but
| they must not be thrust upon the party
| with the threat or penalty of revolt in
| the event of rejection. So all cannot be
leaders. He who thinks more of the ad-
vancement of his political principles than
| the qualification of ambition for person.
al preferment will willingly accept the
| leadership that the opinion of his party,
| regularly expressed has selected. He
| has the privilege of affecting the choice
| of leaders just as much as his influence
| entities him to do So If this canon of
| party loyalty be not adhered to, there
| will not be left enough of the party to
| be worth leading. The first essential of
concentrated action is willingness to
coalesce. Every great document of the
American community, from the federal
| constitution down, has been the product
of compromise-of Difference to individ-
| ual views and concession of Individual
desires to few dominant principles
which because dominant have been uni
| flying.
Nor can a party which is to be large
|
power In the affairs of the people pick its
membership or even its officers like a
select club organized to advance a lit.
erary or social cult. During the civil
war recruits were selected for theil
fighting qualities, and not for their home
occupations or associations. The preach,
er trudged in the ranks, shoulder tC
shoulder with the hand laborer, and tho
follower of creed kept in line with the
man who had no creed at all except
faith In the Union. There were generals
from all stations and degrees. Some
were graduates of colleges and military
schools and some were graduates OF
battles. Occasionally there was on,
who swore, or perhaps played card,
or mayhap drank whisky when tn,
glass went round. No church mem
hership or college examination test,
were imposed or even dreamed Of
victorious army was not to be built vi