Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-16
PAR TY
VERSUS
COUNTRY
written for The Herald.


Ks thus defined the partisan and
patriot are antagonists. Certainly they
are not aff1nities The one Is narrow
and partial and the other is comprehen-
sive and universal
Partisanism Is in the interest of a
class and patriotism gives consideration
to the mass.
There may be party not partisan,
but only when men unite and Coop
crate for the common good, to do what
will help the whole people. II Is prepos-
ferrous to suppose that one should con-
tinue party affiliations for all time.
When upon a particular question or
questions men act together and the end
for which they contended has been
achieved, the bonds which held them
together have been broken and there
is no moral or honorable obligation to
continue the association.
New questions are constantly arising
and It is not rational to suppose that
there will be concurrence of all the
members of the party In regard to
them. 1t is not infrequent that men
change their opinions in respect to old
or existing questions.
In either case what Is ones duty7
Surely to follow convictions regardless
of extraneous influences or what Others
may say.
The man who cannot resist filings and
taunts coddling and the whipping
In" process is unfit to take part in a
popular government. Nor Is one fit who
has not the strength of character to
cast aside personal interests for the
public good. No man should continue
affiliation with a party longer than he
| is constrained to do SO by his judgment
and his conscience.
a
change as often as individuals--or
adopts any policy or course in conflict
with what is best for the mass of the
people. dissolution through withdrawal
of those who dissent should follow as
matter of. course. 1t Is action COM
PEELED in good conscience, and decent
respect to ones manhood. In every
case man should decide for himself
and no one has a right to question what
he does. Parties are as fallible as in
dividuals, and no man should be
placed in leash with party demands
| Independent judgment is the right
and duty of every man."
1t may be stated as a well-nigh uni
versal fact that those who exert them
selves in development of the spirit of
partisanism are stimulated by some
selfish motive, to achieve personal ag-
|
interest from which personal benefit
will be derived. Partisans are dogma
lists. The world has suffered more from
dogmatism than from the wild schemes
of Ethiopian imagination. Partisanism,
like dogmatism, is an obstruction to
progress. 1t forbids free thought and
Independent action.
Not all change by any means is re-
form. but without it reform would be
| Ill 1nn
| in behalf of Improvement but in nine
cases out of ten it is to prevent 1t. A
good cause is promoted by argument
and persuasion and not by teaching the
lockstep. The rock-ribbed partisan may
| be set down as one who has reached
the limit of his capacity 20 grasp new
ideas, or who thinks the ne plus ultra
of wisdom has already been attained.
He dwells on what has been and Is,
and makes no effort to study what IN
| the future should be. PartisaniSm and
dogmatism are twins. destined to de-
| feat or accomplish the same end.
| Partisanism would be a useful force
were it directed by a reasoning and
progressive spirit, but that rarely or
never happens. On the contrary, 1t re-
sorts to prescription, to nagging and
taunting recalcitrants as turncoats or
| >,
change their opinions and course of
| action Should not men change their
political associations in order to act
consistently with their beliefs? Is it in
! the line of duty and manhood to az
| filiate and act as others dictate? Parti-
sanisrn means submission to the die
tation of a committee, convention or
those who assume leadership.
| There will always be leaders of pub
| "a H. afo
! tors; they influence by their .knowl-
edge power in reasoning and the in
tegrity of their motives. Association
| to promote the public welfare is not
machine politics. The political boss has
none of the characteristics of leader.
| The political machine and boss never
appear except in a party more parti-
san than patriotic. Partisan discipline
and drill are enforcedaby the machine
and boss. These terms have becofe so
obnoxious that substitute designa-
ton has been coined more euphonistic;
1t is the word Organization" 1t was
once supposed that the mass of
party constituted the organization. 1t
| is not so in these later days. 1t is the
| few who put their heads together,
plan nominations of men who will obey
orders, and prepare platforms that con-
tain jimcracks that have no meaning.
| The organization OF To-Day means SUD-
servience to the special interests be-
hind it, which seek favors and supply
the sinews Of war.
| The machine and boss do not seek
men for office for their ability and vir-
tue; they like ability without virtue,
except for those places where they can
not interfere with the policies and
measures that have been programmed.
If they support the nomination of
capable and good men 1t is for the pur-
pose of commanding the ticket to the
better element and to help elect those
subservient to the machine and boss.
Reorganization of parties goes on to
greater or less extent at every cleo
ton in the exercise Of freedom to vote
with this or that party for such reasons
as are satisfactory to individuals. What
would the condition be were there no
changes? Certainly no progress, and
tyranny would never be overthrow
was there never a revolt. Political ma
chimes and bosses are tyrannical and
rely for support on mercenaries and
unreasoning partisans.
The political boss never discusses or
thinks of principles or the efficacy OF
noaa SYIras IN thaff effect IInOO tha nuh-