Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-07-26
FOOLISH POLITICS.

IAN exohange prlnts an aI'Vio
on the subject Of the foolishness
Of partisan politics aud presents
i,s views partly as follows; Cur
iaus practice, that Of the partisan,
OF damning half OF the people Of
The country. For the margin is
now very close on the popular
vote in any national campaign,
sud yet the partisan on either
side does not hesitate to stigmaiize
the whole opposite party az a COM
pound Of knaves and tools OF
course, If this were the case on
either side the nation might as
we'll give up as worthiess-but
there is just as much reason to
believe il is true Of one half the
people as of the other bali, so that
nearly the whole voting popula.
tion is under an identical arraign-
ment-it being agreed to accept
the existence Of saving remnant,
like the ten just men in Sodom
Let us have a little common sense
and trifle Of respect for our
neighbors, even in political heats. +"
What the exchange says is quite
true; still is isnot the whole truth.
The bitter abuse is not even limit
ed to members Of "the other
party" Not only is Fe "whole
opposite party stigmaan,d as a
compound OF knaves aud fools, "
but in the greedy and desperate
contests for state and local Office
candidates Of the same political
re and their ardent supporters
t.ometimes at so many dollars per
day. do not hesitate to slander and
abuse each other in a most con-
temptible manner This vile
abuse goes on until the day on
which the primary election OF the
nominating convention is held. and
the result declared. After this is
done the defeated man actually
deems it his duty as algood citizen
to join in zealously and talk up
the very man whom he had been
talking down. This he does re.
gardless OF the facts. The success
full candidate may be both inco1n.
petent, unreliable and undeserg-
ing. H. may be guilty of all tine
vices and crimes charged against
him yesterday. Today he is az
white. -eS-snow. Such is The low
lesson learne1inisS the ps-.y ya..y seiool.
Such is the pernicious rule of
party trading aud of party life. In
national politics a partisan damns
halt the people Of the country and
delights to do il. The intolerance
and fanaiicism which lead him to
do this may be only few removes
from the pitiful ailment of the
lunatio behind the bars. Still
there would really appear to be
little better excuse for the party
prejudice and passion Of which
standing armies are born and out
OF which come the direful fury and
destruction of civil war, the bit.
ter feelings which come of Sec
tional OF racial differences, than
there is for the disgraceful meth.
ods adopted and pursued in local
and state politics. There is some.
thing weak and vicious and dan
gerous in the schooling which our
public men have given US, some
thing mean and greedy and
groyeling in the teaching Of the
parties, upon which every citizen
of sound mind should at least feel
willing to improve. OF course the
fanatic who is Of weak mind and
deeply rooted prejudices, TO say
nothing of the impulses that are
born of self.interest, will remain
the tool of the misohisf.maker and
of false teachers who seek their
own good and glory. He cannot
be taught. He cannot be moved.
He is joined to his idols. To him
the political opponent is an enemy
"a devil. While one is inclined
at times to grow impatient with
the hopeless clansman Of this
kind, it must occur on reflection
that the blind partisan is not
wholly to blame for his weakness
and that he is today the most pitt.
ful OF all the witnesses against our
methods, our institutions and the
civilization which we stand ready
to commend 10 other nations of
the earth.
CIlQIOllg E0AI TANOl y