The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-06-13
coTNrHN AHoNnpAKTY.

The baltimore sun quotes eX-Judse
James A. G.. Bond, Of Carroll county. Md,
as having said in a recent speech.
Some people think. and the thought IS
especially encouraged by those seeking
political hOuOrs and em0lumcuts tnat
party is To bee bliudly Worshlpped like
a fetish. and like a fetish 90 its worship
pers is preturnaturally endowed with the
power OF protection in itself My creed
IS country first the End party second
the Means, any other theory 10 me Is UNI
intelNgiblc-a confession of incOmpetenCy
on the part OF the people 90 take care
of themselves. il you rely on others TO
take care Of you, and annihilate your
selves as factors IN matters of govern
ment. YOU had as well not been born for
all the good you do. do not decry
party nor party zeal. for that SIS healthy
indication Of interest But ] do protest
against this common. inane sentiment Of
slavery 10 party. YOU hear; or 10 anything
else. Slavery IN this connection is reason
gone Slavery is the weapon OF defence
Surrendered Slavery is humiliation.
slavery IS degradation. Follow that
which Is best in the light of your best
reason. and YOU have done all required.
But anything less. your manhood fails.
great English statesman. IL ! may
80 call him. known better for his deVo-
lion 10 party than country. IS thus de-
pictcd IN verse:
who. born for the universe. narrowed
his mind
And 10 party gave up what was meant for
mankind"
II do not msintcrprct tho times upon
We the clock has struck the hour and
doom 81 unconditional adhcrcncy 10 par
". Again. tho people will demand and
Will have "prlnciplcs before men," what
ever the party label may he.
This IS only another evidence Of the
fact which must be apparent 10 al that
the independent vote is growing. Every
year there is larger proportion Of men
who do their own thinking and who re-
fuse 10 be led or driven 10y their party
into voting for men and measures that
they 90 not approve. We recognize the
necessity for party organization. but We
DO not concede that any man is in duty
bound 10 stand 10y his party In course
which he believes 10 Doe wrong. CAL II
mugwumpcry or dcscruon, or what you
Will. The simple fact is that a mans
trst duty IS 10 his country and his con-
science. and he IS untrue % himself when
lie blndly follows the lead OF his party
against his own conscientious conylc-
tOns.
We count IL fortunate for the country
that the independent vote is growing.
We count II fortunate for the Demo
cratic party that thDr. ls within iis ranks
those who firmly stand ty ODE, recognized
principles OF the party. aud Who refuse
to be led away from them when the
party goes astray. Such men are harshly
rritlcised and abused by those who stand
hrst for party regularity and party sue
sess-the ofiices-but the true friends Of
Democracy are those who cry aloud and
spare not when the party. FOR the sake
OF e1pediency wanders away from It's
cardinal principles.
In the days o; ola, when Israel torsook
Jehovah and ran away after strange
gods. the true friends OF Israel were no,
those who ran with the crowd and who
encouraged the king in his idolatry. but
the old prophets who stood upon the