The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-12
PARTIsANRY AND INDEPENDENCE.


PARTIsANRY AND INDEPENDENCE.
The Honorable Charles A. Towne,
former member OF Congress from Min
nesota, and chairman Of the National
Silver Republican Organization, spoke
recently az Birmingham, Ala. on the cur
rency question, and instructed Democrats
as TO their duty.
lie had a great deal to say about free
coinage. but as his arguments were much
the same as those which have been so
often advanced, there was little of in
terest in the speech from that standpoint
But Mr.. Towne took occasion to say
with emphasis that the salvation Of this
country depends upon the recognition by
American citizens Of the principle that
allegiance 20 country comes before ale
glance to party. and that any man who
absolutely ties himself to party and
proposes TO follow It blindly. IS unworthy
of American citizenship. As for himself,
he declared that he would not support
a party or a candidate that did not repre-
sent his views, and he accorded to every
man the same privilege.
In commenting on this the Birmingham
News, a Democratic paper says:
A few years ago q man could not hold
or advance such opinions in the South
without risking political ostracism. Sec
tional prejudice and the race question
have served to prevent the growth Of in
dependence in politics in this section. but
these relics of the war are rapidly disap-
bearing. and the time is approaching
when the Independent voter will be as
important a factor in the South as in the
North, and the great mass OF patriots,
who vote according to convictions and not
in compliance with the dictates Of party,
will control the destinies of this country.
All this goes to confirm the opinion of
The Times. so aften expressed that the
Independent vote Of this country is rapidly
growing.
We believe I'm party organization. In
order TO a successful republican govern
ment. there must necessarily be political
parties. and in order TO maintain po-
ltical party there must be organization.
We believe also in honest partisanry.
We believe that every man should enthu-
siastically support the cause which he
espouses, and we love to see a man de-
voted to his party. BY independence in
voting we do not mean that the citizen
should hold himself aloof from all parties
and vote with this or that party as the
within strikes him. never claiming ale
glance to any party. Every citizen in
this country should be a party man, and
should # he may affiliate with one or the
other OF the great parties of this land.
lie should be a party man from principle,
and not a hoater without any political
creed.
There have always been two great par
ties in the United States, one believing
in strong centralized government, a
government Of the classes. by the classes,
for the classes; the other believing in as
little government as possible, a govern
meut of the people, by the people, for the
people.
Thus are the two parties differentiated,
and it Is an easy matter for the student
of political questions 10 determine which
party is right and with which he should
affiliate
We confess that the line of demarcation
has been well nigh obliterated within
the past few years. but there must in the
course OF time be a readjustment and the
line will be drawn as clean-cut as ever.
And so there will always he Republic
can party by one name or another rep
resenting the peculiar principles Of Re
publicansm, and a Democratic party
by whatever name it may be called rep
resenting the principles of Democracy.
SO long as these parties stand squarely
by their principles the great majority
of voters will divide and arrange them
selves on one side Of the line or on the
other. giving their support sincerely 10
the Republican party or the Democratic
party.
But there is a large body of citizens,
and, as we have said, the number is con-
stantly increasing who will not follow
party hlindly, aud will not support the
party to which they belong, when that
part departs from its rock-bottom prin-
ciples. The party lash has no terror for
them. nor will they be deferred by po-
Htical os,racism from doing their duty
as they understand IT, AS Mr. Towne has
said, they will put allegiance TO country
ahead OF allegiance 10 party, and VIII
vote their convictions regardless of the
cry OF party regularity. In short, the in
dependent voter will take care Of his own
conscience. and not commit 1t into the
keeping Of any political party.
This is not mugwumpery, and those
who confound the political Independent
with the political muewump do so either
designedly or ignorantly. There is the
party man who follows the party blind
ly; there is the independent man
who refuses to follow his party when
in his opinion the party has forsaken
Is principles; there is the mugwump who
is no party man at all, who has no po-
lltieal creed and no party utilization.
These three but the greatest of all is
the independent.
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TRUE ESTIMATE or RICHES.
II Is said of the late John w. Carroll.