The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-02-15
\ WARNING TO REPUBLICANS,

A divided republican party cannot carry
Clatsop county at the coming election.
So seif-evidcnt a proposition is not open
TO discussiol-it admits Of no argument.
Worse disaster might come, OF course,
than the election Of populist or demo-
cratic administration in Clatsop county,
but no republican who realizes the uncer-
tainty involved in the outcome OF the next
state campaign wants to see 50 strong
republican county as clatsop contribute
to the election Of a populist or democratic
legislature and state administration. To
be forewarned is TO be forea-med. and il
wise counsel is allowed to prevail Clat-
sop county need not be lost on either
county or state ticket
But the time and place to foreguard
against party defeat is before and at the
primary election. II the republican party
Of Clatsop county is to be saved from
ignominious and crushing defeat the work
necessary for it's salvation cannot be post
poned until after the nomination OF the
county ticket. The time has gone by
when in any intelligent community the
cry OF party regularity will suffice TO
keep voters in line for platforms or can
didates that do not meet with unqualified
respect and approval. Never in American
history has there been a better and great
er manifestation Of party independence
than In the last presidential election.
Without the rupture Of party ties-and
that too by members Of political or
ganizatlon famous for its cohesion IN the
face OF violent internal disturbance-wn-
liam Mckinley would not now he presi-
dent This superb exhibition OF manhood
and Independence for the sake Of princi-
pal is destined TO become contagious. Il
will dominate future national elections
It's effects have already been felt in state
and municipal contests throughout the
country. To cite examples would be su-
per-uous; the reader finds them in every
daily paper. All over the land there is a
spontaneous. determined and unrelentlng
revolt against machine politics-the rule
Of political bosses who seek to control all
public places and direct every function
and department Of municipal, county End
state government for their own purposes
and for the reward and enrichment o.
parasites and favorites.
The Astorian believes in leadership. !,
believes in party organization, but # does
not believe that either leadership or or
ganization should be the end Of political
systems. 1t believes that they should be
the means to the end, and that end
nothing else than the highest interests
Of the people. When party long in con.
troll Of public affairs becomes the tool Of
the presiding boss in control Of the party
machinery, who uses it in furtherance Of
his own political purposes and private
ends, prostituting its power and influence
for the sake Of the patronage and spolls
Of office It brings, it is manifest some
form Of effectual purging and reform is
necessary for the public good. Such a
state Of political affairs exists in Clatsor
county today but it is condition which
the people will not submit to any longer
There must be a change-there will be 8
change at the coming election. Already
the arrogance Of the ring Is evident II
the preparations agreed on for holding tn,
April primaries, and the question which
will soon confront the republican voters o
the county is whether this ring, by ant
through the questionable methods usua
at the primary elections and in the party
conventions, shall be permitted to carry
out its will in the selection of delegate!
and the nomination of candidates, oi
whether there shall be the free and un
trammeled expression Of popular senti
ment which alone can save the republ
can party of Clatsop county from defea
at the general election.
The republicans of Clatsop county ar,
about to face a grave crisis. They are
confronted with serious state of affairs
The question they will be called on to de-