Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-08-02


GENERAL GEORGE E. BRYANT,
CHAIRMAN REPUBLICAN STATE CEN
TRIAL COMMITTEE.
My DEAR GENERAL BRYANT:-Al.
though a reasonably old Republican
myself, you are an older one, and in
the dilemma as to my personal status
in which | find myself, beg to turn to
you for advice.
Since my first vote was cast no Re-
publican candidate for President of the
United States, and no Republican can
didate for governor of Wisconsin lex
cept once, when absence in the militia.
ry service interfered) has failed to re-
ceive my vote.
During all this time have been ar
IDENTIFY in favor of the general cause OF
the Republican party. But never have
| supposed that being Republican de-
prived me of my right of private judg-
ment, committed me to everything the
party did, or compelled me to subscribe
to everything resolved in party plat
form. This has not been my judgment
OF the requisites of a consistent party
man. My notion has been that one who
approves it's general aims and purposes,
especially upon national subjects (for
national policies are at the basis of our
party organizations, and supports it by
his vote is to be considered member
in good standing of his party,
sTRAIGHT-JACKET NOT A PARTY TENET.
A platform generally contains very
many things, and to say that every vo-
ter for the ticket impliedly affirms its
every declaration, and passes it to q
stage where it may not thereafter he
doubted or debated is as wild in theory
as it is untrue in fact. Such, at least,
has been my belief up to the present
time. The straight-jacket theory OF
platform coercion and control upon
every subject touched or passed upon
has never presented itself to my under
standing until the last state convention.
10 me the question of adhesion to
party, notwithstanding disapproval OF
platform, presented itself at my very
first vote. The great debate between
Lincoln and Douglas had just con-
vulsed the country, and the cause OF
the Republican party, as'expounded by
its coming President. had woven itself
into the very fibre of my soul.
WHEN MINORITY WAS RIGHT.
But was in Wisconsin, and Wiscon-
sin had added to the national Republi-
can platform feature of its own-the
doctrine of state-rights right OF
the state to judge for itself of the con-
stitutionality and validity of an act OF
congress! This had been declared in
state convention and reiterated in q
joint resolution of Republican legis-
lature. Not, however, without dis
sent. A sober minority of the party.
led by great lawyer, the Hon. limo
thy ., Howe. repudiated the fallacy.
These men did not leave the party.
They. were. with it in its national cause
Resistance to the encrOachments OF
slavery. They supported it's candi-
dates. They were ever welcome to the
councils of the party, although. with
the pungency of logic of which Mr..
Howe was master, they lay bare what
they deemed the unsoundness of the
Wisconsin doctrine. 1t remains a sat.
isfaction to Tne to the present day that,
at the age of FL, / took my place with
this minority.
WHEN PARTY BEGINS MANHOOD DOES
NOT END.
In over forty years of political, ,activ-
ity have voted many tickets nomina-
ted on about as many platforms, If
had the latter all before me it would
not be difficult to copy from them pa
ges Of resolutions in which [ never be-
lieved, and to which [ never gave my
assent. And yet was not hypocrite.
At least [ believe [ was not a hypo-
critic
voted as the great mass of voters
do. on what seemed to me the great,
broad, underlying issues of each cam
paign, with little attention to other
subjects or minor planks of platforms.
| have always been glad to be known
as Republican, yet would not want
to be called such if it implied that up
on all declarations of a platform, was