The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-06

union against dlsunion, reconstruction
against irredeemable paper money, pro
lection against free trade, respect for
the Supreme court against the disor-
ganized and demoralizing influence of
communism. Men cannot be indiffer-
ent and at the same time be effective
and good citizens when a great politi-
cal party threatens to take the nation
ration is rope of sand that can be
dissolved like partnership in business.
Such occasions are no time for man
to stand and look on and say 1 am
Mugwump.' When a great political or
ganization, numbering millions, de-
clares that the DEGREES Of the Supreme
court ought to be resisted and that the
federal government has no power 10
enforce the laws of its courts, there ~
no place for patriotism outside OF the
regular organization which stands for
government; and II it were true in the
olden times 1t is more than ever true
today that He that is not with me Is
with me scattereth abroad.
in conclusion this veteran in the har-
ness we'll says:
In Republican governments where the
majority governs and elections and issues
are settled by the vote and voice Oh
majorities, there is no way so sate lot
the young man who desires to contrl-
butte all his judgment, his knowledge, his
nnt ri IN
safety as to select political party whose
principles and practices most nearly cor
respond with those which commend
themselves to the judgment of the voter
and cooperate by word and act to the
establishment of the principles of that
party; and this relation necessarily car
ries with it the obligation to be bound
by the majority in the several acts incl
dent to party organization and party
work. l know it is very often said-and
1t is easy to say it-that no mans con-
science should be bound by party cause
or party action, and that the primary
elections for the nomination of candi-
dates are so many contrivances to strip
the voter of his independence and free
political will. on the contrary, l hold
that there is as much need of organiza-
ton and concert of action in the matter
of nominations as in the matter OF elec-
tions afterward and he who co-operates
at a primary election is In honor bound
to cooperate in support of the man who
is fairly nominated. Thus you have party
organization from the selection of the
candidate to the election of the officer.
The wisdom of the majority first in the
nomination and second in the election is
the safest power to trust. It is possible
sometimes that bad men may he nomi-
mated to office in this way, and then the
obligation to support the ticket goes no
further than that condition which ap-
plies to a contract. Fraud vitiates q con-
tract; fraud vitiates primary election.
The Mugwump, however, is guerrilla
in politics. He is bound by no obliga-
tiOn except the obligation of his own
will. He obeys the dictates of a single
often governed by bad motives or in
as he is by good.
Where the Mugwump theory breaks
down is in the fact that no sooner do
the Mugwumps get together on line
of campaign than they steal the very
methods and weapons of partisan war;
fare; set up a machine of their own.
bind their followers by oath or pledge
to loyalty and differ from the abused
partisans only by being every whit as
bitter partisans to party of their own.
Their only discernible value to the
cause of good government is that some
times they act upon the body polite as
a counter-irritant.