The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1900-02-02
Mayer Joi IS on Parties.

cause OF ltB lmpefiNilems lueunes nte lns
dependence In a charackeFlatlc article in
the World. as iollows;
The spirit OF the party hes slway
been a stumbling block in the path Of
progress. II is essentially anti-social
and in lie last analysis 10 simple indi
vidualism.
The founders Of our government fore.
saw the danger to republican institu.
tion6 from the growth Of the party spir
1t. Washington called special attention
TO this danger In his Farewell Address.
Jefferson shared this opinion and even
90 far as to cay in letter TO "a friend:
at | could only 70 TO Heaven with
party l am quite ready TO cay that l
would prefer not TO 20 there at ALL"
When we reflect upon the real pur-
pose of party organization we see that::it
10 to capture the machinery Of govern
ment-thSt ie, the ofices--ln order that
every function may be used primarily
Tor the purpose otperpetuating the party
machine. No fail-minded man viii de-
ny this propagation. IL follows neces.
sNrily that no department Of government
10 safe from the assaults of party mama
gers. The 6rst object Of maintaining
the streets, the water works, the parks,
the libraries, the schools, and indeed
the whole paraphernalia of government.
is 10 provide place for those who can
render service TO the bosses and secure
sufficient votes to perpetuase their au-
thodiy. Aud this 10 not due to tie ex-
istence OF any special variety Of venality
in the bosses.cr otiics-holders. They,
like the rest Of rs. are just people.
Political partyism has for its basis the
great underlying fallacy that the purpose
Of life is to get individual success. This
false notion, which 90 many OF our peo-
pie have not yet outgrown, 10 the poison
root from which grows every species Of
vice and misery, OF lack and surplus
that characterize our present day cIvili-
cation. The political party 10 phase OF
the evolutionary development Of society.
It is both recent and q transient part
Of our political system. The day is not
far distant when the American people
win look back ON party government in
the came way that they now look back
upon king and queen and emperor gov
ernmeat as an absolute thing, for which
they have no further use.
People cay to me. "But we must have
parties as long as we have politice.
Their objection 10 quite a. short.sighted |
re was that of those monarchists in pre-
epublican days who said: "But we
must have kings az long as we have gov,
II was asserted and believed
oT centuries that kings existed by "di-
sine right" and it is not 30 long since
many Eell-meaDiug in our own country
believed that one Of our political parties
vas Gods PARTY" To-day there are
lot many who woald care to seriously de-
end such claim, and we are rapidly
preparing for another step toward free
lom which will entirely emaneipate us
rom the party boss. The king and the
party must makeswsy for the people.
So long az government BY party con-
inues no department Of our government
. safe. Every branch Of it, even the pub
ic scnools, which should be citadel Of lib.
'rty, will be used primarily to fassen mp.
IN the PEOPLE OF hierarchy of party, just
10 the king IN ancient times used every |
unetion Of government to perpeiuate bis
eign.
The most encouraging sign In the polit-
cal horizon 10 the growth Of the non-par-
isan spirit. We are approaching the
ime when q msjority of the voters will
ote as patriots and not a. partisans. /
his is even nov finding expression in
,hio Legislature in bill known 90 Mu.
Iieipal Code Commission BILL" which
orbids nomination for municipal Offices
y party conventions. Every nomIaation
aust be made.by popular petition, with
ut the the Intervention Of political ma
hinery Of any kind. The names of all
andidatss to be voted for will then be
laced upon one ballot. without any polit-
al designation whatsoever. The voter
I'LL bs thus allowed to freely choose the
lost worthy OF the candidates. without
aviDg bis judgment warped by the par
san device Of an eagle or a rooster at i
ie top of his u
When every citizen vOtes according to
le dictates Of an awakened social con
ience and an enlightened intellect our
1blic schools and all our beneHcent in {
ltutions will be safe, and there is no I
her safety except that which is thus c
cured.