Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-07
MIST REc0gNIzE An ELEMENTs.

MUST am bLEhbNIN, -
Upon the republican state convention,
which assemblies at Lincoln on Wedncs-
day, rests n grave responsibility. Tn
less all signs fail, the tidal wave of re.
p%ublicanism which is sweeping the
country makes republican success in
Nebraska not only possible, but ALSO
lutely certain If the convention exercises
sound discretion in the selection of the
party's standard beaters.
The consensus of opinion that the
party cannot win unless it dominates
capable and clean men for every ex-
ecutive office should preclude the nom
nation of anybody whose public rec
ord or private career would have to
be explained or defended. This, how
ever, is not all that is expected of the
republican state convention. In order
to make sure of united and enthusiastic
support of the whole rank and file, all
elements of the party should be repre-
scented On the ticket.
Such an %admonition. may appear SUI
perfluous and uncalled for to that class
of republicans who boast that they al
ways vote the straight ticket no matter
who the candidates are so long as they
have the endorsement of a republican
convention and to that other class more
active If less numerous who support
only such candidates as are vouched for
as satisfactory to the corporation man
ayers upon whom they depend for their
political inspiration.
The convention must not, however,
Ignore the fact that the recovery of the
state depends upon lis ability to sat
isfy the Important element that has re-
peatedly demonstrated in convention
and at the ballot box against the abuses
that brought about the disasters that
have overtaken the party. Fine words
butter no parsnips. To reassure his
class of republicans that the party will
not tolerate corruption or corporate
domination the convention must place
upon its ticket candidates who repre-
sent the anti-monopoly and anti-boodler
wing of the party. To draw the line at
''bolters' who are otherwise honest and
competent in making up the ticket and
not draw it at men who have never
raised their voice against public plum
derers and corporate bossism is not
likely to bring back disaffected repub-
licans who are ready and anxious to
resume their party allegiance just as
soon as they can be convinced that the
M rtV iS uIlrunI on1 nrn,n,,tn1
Few conscientious citizens of any party
have always voted the u%nscratched
ticket. When President Mckinley had
under consideration the selection of a
secretary of the treasury-the most
important position in his ~cabinet-he
was reminded Within the hearing OF the
editor of The Bee that Lyman j. Gage
was a bOlter. But the president-elect
promptly reminded the man who raised
this objection that many honest and
true blue republicans had committed the
same offense.
If the test to be applied to candidates
ON the republican state ticket this year
Is to be unreasOning and unQuestioning
support Of all party candidates from
constable to governor whatever their
record or character may have been, the
chances of restoring republican suprem-
acy in Nebraska will become extremely
doubtful. The road to success lies in
the opposite direction. Common sense
would dictate that the party should moi
only extend unconditional amnesty tc
all who have from good motives OF
conscientious scruples either severed
their former party relations or abstainec
from elections but give this discon
tented element an incentive to return
to the republican fold.