The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1897-11-19
$500. - YER SINE the american colonies achieved tGar 1nde
tFs4'I..aa = pendenee and became their own masters the 1J9llaEf IN

pendenee and became their own masters the .4o,u11,,-
S0sNsM' ~ boss has been more or less conspicuous in eyerv
,.elmhon. In all countries where the governing power is vested ia the lpeonle
'yod win find large bodies Of men holding 70 similar views and opinion. O. a.
economic and social questions. assoeistng themselves together and working
for The enactment of these ideas and principles into Law. 1t has been the
case in these United States siaee the government was established. Then
Jefferson led off at thcheld Of oae party whilo Alexander Hamilton directed
the course Of the other. The question that divided the sovereign sudrapist
then Is vital question to-day. Jefferson contended for a strict construction
of the constitution guarding with Jealous care the reserved rights Of the
states and upholdiug tie poaer CT the PEOPLE: while Hamilton argued for i
strong government, Capitalization of power, dicredting the ability IL In"
the political leaders were in 80 way similar to tie boss Of today. While O..
fgannation was about as compact. tic motives which moved them were ANA,
lent Then, it was a question Of principle--the best means to accomplish
the greatest good to the most Nov In many Instances, it Ii thirst for once
the cohesive power Of public punder that aGtuate and inspire men to
fight and work and cheat. Bat as stated above, it has been the case from
the fist and will continue doubtless to the end. Persuing further this line
q Thought the following from the Popular Science Monthly is pertinent.
81 In former days people uel to grow FESTIVE periodically under the abuses Of
monarchial or autocratc governments and there were those who fondy bdiey.
ed that, if monarchy as an institution could be done away with and the people
LEFT free to govern themselves al political taubbs would cease. We'll, in Ger.
faineountries, and notably in this every vosige of monarchy in the hednafyt
sense has been abolished; the people are free to govern themselves, and vet u
Judging blythe dis susdoas tht we roadin the daily presses, the golden age seems
delay its coming. The complaint used ODE that the monarch was forget
full of the true interests Of his Subjects tat too much was sacrificed to court in
trisues and private favoriisnni and, strange to say we hear today complaints
III o precisely the he same line, though directed against quite another y
class Of authorities, Instead Of te intrisus of court we have the intrigues 81
or extent the people find that tAh1 real interests are being neglected while their
supposed servants but actual rulers are assigning places and carving out the
public wealth with a view mainly to their own convenience and the perpetuation 4
Q lhr power AT the present monent there is in this very community q
specially bitter cutlery against the evils Of political bosasm, and thousands Of
worthy citizens have taken counsel together in the hope Of casting asunder the
bands which they ind SO oppressive ltthey can by a poigious effort break the
power of the ruling boss things they hope will go better ever kerward. We
nOt sure That there Is otsome Illusion in this No monarch w pIacei
hlhsefm ms throne by his own unaidoi actions and no boss evera acquired his
position by the sole exerton OF his own will. The origin Of the boss a w take
Is This: Government with all its powers being thrown into the hands Of the
people there arises a keen struggle as to who shall wiad those powers and enioy
advantages vs. may bsincident thereto. Such a struggle necessarily deyei
ops into a faction fight; and where there is fighting there must be organization n
for fighting purposes. The boss is the leader of the faction, the man who surveys
a comprehensive eye the whole field Of BATTLE who enforces discipline, who q
the word of commend, who directs the campaign. The old saying thatin
the midst OF arms laws must ba kept silent is verified in these political struggles.
The place which ought to bo filled by sonerunpannt nan prepared to serve the
public to the utmost of his abAityhts to b. given to ma Whose appointment will .
strengthen the party and the party is understood to be strengthened when a
important office is bestowed in such q manner as u) to encourage party workers,
and ~ to furnish funds for party uses Neither in actual warfare nr in politics
are battles won by discoarses GA moral philosophy. The boss engages to carry
bis party to victory or to nurse it, energies after defeat; and he must he allow
ed large discretion as to the means to be used. "@FNr
little reflection, therefore, wall make 1T clear that the only way to get rid
theboss is o do away with the necessity of his services AS long Al he is
wanted he will be there, and there is worry little use in finding fault with him 81
his methods. AS we fnd fault with a general in the field for Smelling A town ino
enemy have fortified taena5sea or sadng fife to standing grain, r
any other of the thousand wasteful acts that characterize ordinary war,
lWari war the world over and ~boo1shed apart, which, however, NAV
not be far in the background political warfare has all the signs and character. -
slcs OF war in its murdefoas form It'll q matter of strategy. 1t involves
OF property and gains its ends, whenever necessary, by rusea and deceit }@
Ihe Question howto get rid Of the bo5 is merged, therefore in the much wider
one, how to get rid of the conflict that calls the boss into existence and invests
him with dictatorMl power. g
.+ THERE'S but one way that we can sec and that is to persuade the electorate :
that appointments to office are not things to squabbde about and that in &C far
aany nan governs thnv"sh Liza aha fA islound to do fin te intormt f, ta m
country vt large We are not enthusiastic enough to believe mat sucn q ,l.a.,.
in public senhmentcan be brought about in n short time. Still, We consider IL
important that thesaaSo Of the trouble should be distinctly recognized, So long
As men are bent on lighting for. the control of patronage it vain to ask them
set aside the leaders upon whose talents for organization, strength Of will. d
md general esoumefulnesN all their hopes of victory depend. The effort Of 70.
Formers should be bent notion showing how many deplorable acts the different
arc responsible for and how little in general they consult the pnbic inter #
est in the exercise of their power bat in bring home the responsibility for this IA
~holeconditon of things upoa tie thoamnl5 of clmtor. who never "a. md e nv ~
correct view of their political obligations and consequently never think or usinr ~
their individual portions Of political power for other than selfish ends The boa,
will continue to flourish until the people get a new heart When that zdav "a
he will pass into innocuous douetude, .as 1%Ha r.aHa
~ - W.