Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-06-03
THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1897.
PARTY HARMONY.

Political parties should be built upon
principle. Their chief purpose ought to be
the securing of the greatest good to the
greatest number. 1t has been contended
the Republican party was the party OF the
masses rather than classes. Its principles
are national in character and its doctrines
purely American. These principles have
made it dear to the people and united IN
its ranks men of all classes and professions.
For twenty-eight years of the past thirty
six years it has BEEN in charge of the
affairs of our government. Craftsmanship
and patriotism have been prominent
features in the make up of the Republican
party. In 1892 the people, who had grown
weary of prosperity and honest conduct OF
the affairs of the government, were guilty
of the folly of putting modern Democracy
or Clevelandism in charge of the ship OF
state. Disaster followed and discomfort
prevailed to such an extent that, in 1896
Republican principles and the Republican
party triumphed against the combined
forces of Democracy, Populism and all the
other political forces that rallied to the
support of Mr.. Bryan. 1t was great
victory for Americanism, and its fruits
must not be frlttered away by the selfish
men who united their fortunes with the
party in order to secure a part of the
patronage that would follow Republican
success.
All over the country we find men who
paid little attention to the campaign last
year that are now active candidates for
lucrative offices under the Mckinley ad-
ministration. If they fail to secure a plum
they will be greatly angered, and
will try to produce discord in the ranks
of the party. Such as these can do little
damage and hardly deserve notice.
There is danger, however, which is
upon the party in many localities, and one
that if not treated in the proper spirit,
may work great injury to our party organ
ization. There are rival candidates for
small post offices and subordinate positions
in the revenue service. They have organ
lied faciional followings in contesting for
these small places and are creating a
feeling of bitterness towards each other
that threatens to produce fatal discord in
some localities.
Into some of these local quarrels or
controversies county leaders have permit
ted themselves to be drawn. They have
range themselves on one side or the other
of these neighborhood contests, and
are producing conflict where there ought
| to be union of influences and forces. This
is all wrong Each locality ought to be
permitted to settle its own disputes. The
county leaders ought to keep clear of them,
except to encourage friendly spirit
among the contestants. A good party
man will subordinate his own interests and
wishes to those of the party, if he is
member of the party from principle.
A great battle was fought last Fall for
principle. A true Republican will remem-
Der this and will not, if he stops to think,
place himself in position to assist in hold
ing from the party and country the benefits
that ought to be derived from that victory.
True party men ought to refuse to par
ticipate in the local quarrels we have
referred to, except to concilliate. Fac
tional differences will weaken the party
and will moi help those who create them.
The local post Offices are small affairs in
comparison with party success and the
public good.
Let the Republican brethren in the
State and the Ninth District realize this,
and go to work for harmony and future
party success.