The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-10-13

unfaltering allegiance, We ask repub-
licans to stop and consider the nature
Of the accusation Occasionally man
may bolt a part of the ticket because
he believes some of the nominees are
unfit; this may not involve an aban-
Comment of party principles; when.
however, a man deserts his party and
basely surrenders every principle his
party holds dear, and espouses the
principles of the opposition party to
secure a high Office, lie is guilty of
political perficy and treason. IL We
censure a man who bolts his ticket,
what condemnation shall We visit upon
the man who bolts his party?
The guilt of Mr.. Thompson is the
greater because while he openly at
tempted to keep faith with his repub-
lican supporters vet secretly he con-
nived with the populists to overthrow
his own party and become a populist
senator. He got the support of repub-
licans on the understanding that he
was a republican and sought the sup
port of the populists because he had
agreed to become one of them. Mr..
Thompson can offer no excuse for his
conduct in the last senatorial cam
paign. His principle competitor, Mon
roe l.. Hayward, was a man of great
ability and the highest character. He
commanded the esteem and confidence
of the people of the state in a remark
able degree. For more than twenty
five years he was recognized as one of
the foremost republican leaders in Ne
braska. He was familiar and stall
wart figure in all our state conven-
voto1
promising republicanism. He held to
his political convictions as rigidly as
he did to his religious faith. AS a
brave soldier, brilliant orator, able
Judge and model citizen he possessed
the qualifications in an eminent de-
gree for the high Office of United
States senator. His canvas for the
gOvernorship endeared him to the peo-
pie and won for him wide popularity.
The unanimity of the demand that
Hayward should be senator was STAYED
of for three months by Mr.. Thompson
who had never been seen in any repub-
lican convention and had never been
heard of as a candidate for senator I'M
til after the fall election. Finally af-
ter a memorable and severe struggle
which almost disrupted the republican
party republican caucus was called
and Thompson, Hayward and the 9TH
er candidates agreed to abide by the
result and give the whole republican
vote to the nominee of the caucus. The
result Of this caucus was the nomina-
ton of Monroe l.. Hayward by the re-
publicans to the Office of United States
senator.
The action of the caucus was hailed
with delight throughout the state; but
Mr.. Thompson, desperate from defeat
in the darkness of the night went over
to the camp Of the enemy and violated
his agreement and pledge to abide by
the action of the caucus. He went so
far as to sign bill of sale Of repub-
lican principles.
Mr.. Thompson is now a candidate
for the vacancy caused by the death of
Senator Hayward. We submit the
foregoing testimony to the candid
judgment of all republicans of this
county and state, and ask them to
pause and consider whether they can
afford to bind the party to support a
man who is willing to sell his political
birthright. Only a few months have
passed since Mr.. Thompson sought to
defeat Senator Hayward and become
populist senator of Nebraska. The re-
publicans of Nebraska must face the
question whether they will condone
Mr.. Thompson's political perfidy.
II the republican ticket in Lancas-
ter county expects the full support of
loyal republicans, they ought to de-
clare their intention to cut loose from
Mr.. Thompson.
Inasmuch as the evidence of Mr..
Thompson's abandonment of the re-
publican party was not disclosed at
the time the republican convention
met, the nominees on the republican
ticket in this county and all republi-
cans would be justified in refusing to
support Mr.. Thompson-s candidacy.
1t will not do to act upon the theory