Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1902-02-27
DON'T VOTE LIKE A MACHINE.
Sequachee, Tenn, Feb, "A, lsO2.


Of Attorney-General for the Fourth Ju-
iicial Circuit. In these articles | find |
as strong and clean cut endorsement of |
a man and public official, as is possible |
to bestow upon man until the mantle
Of charity is drawn over his mistakes
by his survivors after his death
Capt. Donaldson is still living pass
ing in and out among us.
If a man can so live in the full glare
Of public official life that at the close OF
seven years of faithful service, no blem-
ish to perfect reputation for honor
and integrity, then by all tokens of
philosophy and reason he will not in
his later years depart from the path of
rectitude, and, judging the future by
the past he can safely be trusted for
another term of seven years.
Or, does the humorous editor Of the
esteemed Statesman Democrat imagine
that the Chesteraeldian and genial At
orney-General is giving whole life
time of unrequited devotion to duty
like the proverbial good mule" just for
the privilege of one farewell kick2
But the distinguished editor of the
SD. says that ne cannot rpH9oieWtiO"sH
support him as against the regularly
nominated candidates Of a party"
have attended seme primary elect
ions but have never been present at
political convention for the purpose OF
nominating candidates in manner call
ed regular" but if current report OF
our recent performances in this line be
true the regularity" of candidate is
to great extent dependent upon his
ability to furnish free passage for loaf
ers and other nondescripts, previously
corralled and driven like y flock OF
sheep to be counted while passing out
Of the courthouse gates, Our represent
tative citizenship must of necessity be
in very small minority at such gath
ering, and II this be regarded as ''regul'
lar" then am doubly pleased to know
that the gallant w. =. Donaldson is not
so considered.
1t is to pc presumed, however for the
special benefit of the tender fO"sciEAtts
Of the strict party voters that the Cap
tain's nomination seven years ago was
in every respect regular" Now, If
truth be eternal and if there be any
Of this quality in the nomination called
Irregular" it is safe to assume that this
nomination is good after lapse Of sew
en- years, and the good editor and his
numerous constituency can conscienti-
ously vote a Ia ytgHlarite, and the Cap
tain will be reelected unanimously, as
he ought to be-
Fellow citizens, We prate af sell.gov-
ernment, corruption of morals in poll
tics and ring rule, but If the Filipt-
nos did not possess greater capacity to
run their own affairs politically they
deserve to be still shepheFded by
Spain,
Party organization is right, but as a
party is composed OF individuals they
are liable to make serious mistakes,
and party is right only when it repre-
sents the majority of the common peO'
pie and select the best men available
for office.
take it to be low state of political
morals which makes it possible for
man, an independent American citizer
to boast that he has never voted Other
than a straight Democratic ticket, or ;
similar description of Republican tick
ct in all his life,
Do we really consider it more impor
tant to be ''tried and stapnch partisanS'
than to be "true American citizens|
Citizens of common glorious Union
which until recently stood for Uniyer
sal Political LibeFty2 1t is perfectl,
proper for a man who goes into politi
cal convention and pledges himself t
support the candidate selected, to abid
by the decisions OF that convention
He has the opportunity to infuenc
that decision, but what right has he @
other members of that convention t
bind free American citizens whose pal
ty name comedies with that of the cor
Ventioh referred to?
Citizenship first; partisanship seOonC
VIII the intelligent voters of this eli
y Quit elect an independent candidate
without a fiaw---an officer who has bee
tried and found not war ting, or wi
they elect man whom they not oI
except as regular candidate" chose
at regular convention by some goo
} men and a considerable number of hlaC
sheep
In any case Capt. Donaldson will loi
- nothing. lie is man who would rat
, or 60 down in defeat than forfeit the e
y teen of his couatrymeu and person
~ friends, whose name are legion.
% Cant Donaldson bestowed the ar
kind word of welcome to members
our family, WHO were fortunate enoul
in forming his acquaintance on .
train en- route to Sequaohee, and for u
kindness, which in itself seems We
re insiUnifcant vet makes up the Rra