Evening journal., 1904-11-02


VN A WEEK the election win be over,
4 and we shall an be explaining and
listening to explanation. And then we
shall quietly adjust ourselves TO the de-
crees imposed by the ballot box, and
like good American citizens declare,
whatever the outcome that the country
is safe.
II occurs to us that at this moment
when we arc getting our wind for the
coming contest that 1t is not amiss for
an Of us to sit down and think things
over. Many men could talk over the
question OF their ballots with their
wives with profit And since the wo-
men cannot vote. this Is their only op-
portunity to have voice in the govern
ment.
I'm the first place. the ballot box is no
place to record spites or revenges. And
in the second place. a ballot once cast
cannot be recalled. We might also say
that the election booth is no place to
pay debts and TO reward friends be-
cause they are friends, and not because
they are it for the offices TO which they
aspire. We leave these points to be
talked over with the women.
And now let us consider how far a
voter is to be controlled by his party al.
legiance. We all understand that what
ever our fathers contemplated wher
they established this system Of gov
ernment. that political parties are now
a part Of the machinery OF government
IL has been the history Of all free gov
ernments that the people have divided
into parties. usually two. This is made
necessary from the fact that to accom-
pllsh anything men must act in con-
cert
The people Of free governments have
little liberation for Mugwumps They
have little sympathy for the man who
has no party ties; and they are apt to
understand when the motive FOR inde-
pendent political action is revenge,
Now to act with a party Is not a hard
ship for the unthinking man who de-
lights to wear a collar. but sometimes
81 is CALLING TO the man who does his
own thinking and whose motives are
high. He Is certain TO find conditions
that he deplores and candidates that he
deems unfit. But he is a part Of an or
gaulzatlon. and he must make up his
mind that the largest good can be ac-
complished only through some organi-
zation. But in every party is a host Of
supporters who are not entirely subser-
Went. They love their party so much
that above an else they want Il to be
right, and to do right They constitute
the corrective force within the party.
and their opinions are not to be trined
with. This is the saving element I'm
any party
1t is said that life is made tolerable
for the average man by the "klckers.
We owe our decent hotels, obligmg ofi.
cials and the performance Of many d
duty to them. So each Of the politlca
parties has its objectors and complain
ants. and it is their eternal presenc
and eternal insistence on proper dcport
ment that saves parties from becomin
mere corrupt machines.
But in the end. most OF these me
support their own party and havin
done so. they regard themselves as Il
she game, and as stii having the righ
90 be heard. OF course the time ma,
come when the objections may be s.
grave and numerous that there is onl.
one course left--to fight. But ere tina
line Of conduct Is decided upon tn
larger good and the larger harm shoul,
be carefully balanced.