The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1902-02-21
PLENTY OT TINE.

gent American clLlZen from Wn1cn ne
cannot escape and preserve the integ-
rity of the nation. If the best people
ignore the duty the power of govern
ment reverts to the vicious an0 the
scheming politicians, the bala"Ce Of
power is given the floating voters"
who either sell their franchise rights to
the candidate paying the highest price
or are swayed by the glamor of the
hour, whether it be we'll timed or not.
Suffrage should, therefore, under
government like ours, be considered a
serious matter. We should study the
situation before delivering ourselves
prematurely to parties or candidates in
conflict the result of which must be
decided by ballot after a party cam
paign is set in motion by the consti-
tuted authorities. This is especially
important in a State like our where the
primary nomination is equivalent to
an election.
It is a clever ruse of the men who
make politics a life business or profess
sion to enter the arena early and secure
what they dignity by the name of
pledges but which in reality are, in
many cases, mere promises incon-
siderately given, upon misapprehen-
sion of facts. 1t is only for hoOdwiu.i
ing purposes that you hear the politi-
clan magnifying the sacredness OF a
J pledge thus secured. How many of
them did you ever see attach any i'm
pOrtance to pledges" after an elec-
ton? That lofty sentiment has then
served its purpose and has no further
place in the vocabulary of the politi-
clan.
1t is truly wonderful how many peO-
pie are caught in this way, in every
campaign. Not so wonderful either,
when we come to consider that the
politician makes the matter of secur-
ing first pledge" his business, while
the voters, as rule, are occupied with
their respective business callings or
occupations. But it should not be so.
The selection of the very best men for
office should actuate every man who
has the interests of his community at
heart. Therefore we should at least
wait until the issues are made up, and
until we know who the candidates are
going to be.
Another ruse is more orless "shrewd-
ly" employed by professional poll
ticians. They have a way of pushing
themselves into a campaign, creating a
great furore in their own behalf and
then audaciously proclaiming that no
one else should interfere with them.
1t is trick that catches many a voter
who has not stopped to consider the
real facts. Because man elects to de-
clare himself a candidate, are the peo-
pie his servile slaves? By what au-
thOrity does he at any stage secure a
monopoly of the right of candidacy for
any position in a republic? Has it
come to pass that the people are no
longer free in the sense that our fore
fathers taught?
By no manner of means!
The people are the masters, even
after the day of election, and the man
who is fit to grace any Office within
their gift regards himself as their SER
, want. To represent his people in high
official position is an honorable am
bition. 1t is one that should be ac-
corded every American citizen at every
stage of the proceedings prior to the
formation of the ticket for the primary
election.
In conclusion we simply want to ad-
monish the Democratic voters whom
The Tallahasseean is honored by hav-
ing as a clientele, that every principle
upon which a republican form of gov
ernment is based dictates the soberest
judgment, the most candid weighing Of
=. conditions at the time the campaign Is
waged. Give to the question of gov
ernment the same honest care an6
+, meditation that you would your OWL
business or profession. Select men as
well qualified to represent you in gov
ernmental affairs as you would tC
transact a branch of your business
When such caution and sober judgment
actuates us in these matters we may
D expect to see in Office men who car
I treat pledges more seriously al
through their terms of Office.