The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-10-05
Party Organization.

great many D6mOCTdtS W uO Cdu
read it with more or less benefit.
In a Republican form of gov
err. ment, such as ours, political
parties are. in the very nature of
the case, a necessity. 1t would
be impossible to conceive of a gov
ernment by the people, in which
parties are not formed. Men of
like convictions are naturally
brought together, III order to pro
mote that which they think is for
the best interests of the country,
and to oppose that which they be-
lieve would be hurtful AS long
as men hold different views upon
public questions. so long will there
be political parties, rejecting
these different views.
Now we go a step further and
say. that just as political parties
are necessary for the permanency
aud we'll being of a Republican
form of government, so is organl-
cation necessary for the perma-
nency and well being of IA p0liti
Cal party within such form of
government. The fact is, othing
worthy Of note can be accomplish
ed, socially. enthusiastically or
politically without organization.
1t seems to be the fad, nowadays,
to diSparage organization, and es-
pecially political organization,
and to emphasize the virtue of IN
dependence Ill politics.
The community has the greatest
respect for the independent man,
the man who thinks for himself,
who has convictions of his own,
and dareS to maintain them. But
even SO good man as this, must
have his intelligence discounted,
If he lmaglues he can accomplish
any hing single handed and alone.
Men act as independents III poll
ties, for various reasons. Most of
them, we hope and believe, from
high, patriotic motives. A large
Der of men, however, parade
themselves as independents to
crafty their personal vanity.
They know more then other people;
more, indeed, than all others COM
bined. They are more virtuous
than their fellows, and would feel
themselves Inundated to be assO-
ciattd with the common herd, in
political organization.
Then there are a great many
good men, well meaning men, hon
eS; men, who take no interest III
politics because, as they say,
there is SO much corruption in
politics." But why, we ask is
there so much corruption in poll
ticS2
Certainly there is no necessity
for it. Why, it is simply because
these very men who hold up their
hands in holy horror, at the
thought ofpolitical corruption, re-
fuse to take any part in p0lit cal
affairs; never attend primary or
do anything to shape political
thought in the community in which
they live. They use no effort to
make things of which they com
plain better.
Some one has said, and the ex-
preston is true aud forcible, that
corruption in politics is due more
to the good men who are out Of
politics than to the bad men who
are in politics."
1t is the duty of every citizen
to take an interest in politics,
and TO cast his influence for that
which he considers for the best in.
terests of the country; and that he
may do so effectively, he must CO.
operate with political organiza-
ton, and work with it. If it is
not all that he would like it to be,
let him try to make it better.
Some people have the foolish
idea that good man cannot touch
politics without becoming con-
taminated, and have his good
name soiled. There is neither
reason nor common sense in such
a proposition. Mona discharges
his moral duty, his duty to God,
who neglects his duty to his coun.
try.
In the discharge of duty to
church or state, men accomplish
little who are not allied with
some organization. And if he is
an honest man, he will connect
himself with that organization
which best reflects his views. not
because it is perfect, for no human
organization is perfect, but be-
cause it contains most of that
for which he desires to stand as a
citizen.
We believe the principles Of the
Democratic party, enunciated by
Jefferson a century ago, are best
suited to the government of free
people. And we appeal to Demo.
Gratis everywhere, and in every
campaign, to stand solidly with
THAR narfv oruon;1o4;