The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-18

great work Of bringing prosperity and
plenty into every home in this broad land
LOCAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS.
A vote for "a Democrat who Is running
upon the Chicago platform Of last year
is as much a vote for Bryan and free sill
yer as 1t would lave been last year.
BE not deceived by the cry OF the enemy
that there is no politics in local elec-
tiOns, l say to you that there is not and
should not be an election, 10 matter how
unlmportant in any district or ward
which has not its own political sgnif-
canoe.
In a government like ours, officials are
the representatives of the principles of
the party to which they belong, and
vote cast for them Is under our peculiar
form of government q tatit endorsement
of the principles of the party upon whose
ticket their names appear. A Democratic
official, no matter how small and unim-
portant office, is merely a wheel in the
machinery of his party. The same is true
of Republican office holder. The per-
sonality of the man upon which we place
so much significance is after all OF sec
ondary Importance; the responsibility of
party obligation and the hope of future
political preferment being more power
full incentives to honest and efficient ad-
ministratiOn, than the hope Cf popular &p-
proval.
A weak man under the pressure of po-
ltical influence and advice is a safer man
for the people than a strong man without
outside influences to support him. the
will of the majority is as strong a factor
in the preservation of our government in
side of party as outside.
There has been for some time strong
sentiment in certain sections against par
| ty leadership or "bossism" as il is called
bv Tho tUO words NOT n
| omous. Intelligent, honest, incorruptible
| guidance which makes for better and more
| competent officials and the best interest
| of public service should never be termed
| "bossism," which is the name applied,
| and rightly, to q guidance which makes
| for the personal and corrupt interests
| of the individual as against the public
| welfare. Government cannot succeed un-
| less there be some one mind in control
| some one hand at the helm, and it Is only
| proper and fitting that the person who
| must assume the responsibility of a move
| ment, or an administration should be con-
| suited as TO its policy and the selection
! of the men who are to carry it into effect
| That is as true of ward politics as of ma
| tional politics. The trouble with so many
! of our would be reformers is that they
| consider themselves better qualified to be
| leaders than the men who are officiating
| in that capacity. What they really mean
| is that they are against rings, in which
| they are not recognized, but are in favor
| of rings which they can control.
| I have no doubt that during the wal
there We're many privates carrying mus
| kets who believed in their hearts that
| they were greater military geniuses thar
| Sheridan, Sherman or Grant, but unfor.
! tunately for them 10 one believed it but
| themselves. And so it is in politics. AS
soon as a man demonstrates his ability
to lead there are always enough to follow
In order to be a good leader a man must
have been a faithful follower. No mar
has a right to call himself a Republican
| who refuses to be bound by the actor
| Of a majority Of his party.