The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-11-15

analysis Of the vote iu several com
nunt,ies shows the same result and
demonstrates the same fact and those
who have not yet given heed to this
fact had best do 50 or they are liable
10 nav dearly for their ignorance or
their perversity. The election teach
es those who are neither perverse nor
Ignorant that the time has past IN
this country when voters WI sub
scribe to any policy or vote tor any
candidate merely because that policy
or that candidate bears the party
label.
II viii NO longer do 10 run counter
70 the best and highest sentiment OF
a community in making party nomi-
nations. even II the party which does
this can claim as It's adherents
large majority of the citizens Of such
community. To be victorious a party
or candidate should deserve to win.
lIf a candidate is unworthy or II MS
party's platform is a menace. to the
peace and happiness and good morals
OF the community defeat viii and
ought to be his portion.
A party nomination, even though II
lbA a Democratic nomination. cannot
make an unworthy and faithless citi-
zen deserving candidate. Party
labels do not mean as much as they
once did. A party nomination does
not carry the weight that 1t did q
few short years ago. This has been
often demonstrated in Tennessee, and
recently IL has been forcibly illustra-
| ted in other sections of the country.
There has been a great moral awaken
ing. the voters are showing an ever
( increasing reluctance to accept ma
chine-made candidates who are un-
worthy their suffrages More and
more the good citizen. formerly con-
tent tn allow the bosses to name the
ticket. which he voted as matter OF
| course. is insisting upon the right to
voice in making the nomination. De-
MED this right he feels no obligation
to support the nominees.
A political party, however splendid
Its achievements or hallowed it's mem
ory. can no more make an unworthy
citizen worthy candidate than can
the Ethiopian change its color or the
leopard change its spots. 1t has taken
the people long time to learn THIS
hut at last they are giving unmistak'
able signs of an intelligent apprecia-
ton Of its truth. Having learned In
the bitter but most efficient Of all
| schools, that of experience, II IS
lesson that they are not likely to soon
forget.
All that Is necessary now for the re-
generation Of our politics and for the
publication of civic life is that the
| politicians may also learn their les
son: that Is to realize and appreciate
the great change which time and en-
perience has wrought In the minds
and hearts of the great body of the
| yoters-that great silent army Of law
abiding, God-fearins and home-iov1ng
citizens whose only interest in cleo
tions is prompted by desire to ser
cure good, clean government and 2
fair and just distribution OF its bless
tings.
/! Louisville, Kentucky, is case IN
point. A large majority Of the white
| voters of the city are Democrats, but
they are Democrats from sincere con-
! viction that through the Democratic
| barty they may the more readily and
certainly secure the blessings or good
| government Than through another
party organization They are not
Democrats for revenue but from
higher sense OF duty TO state and TO
| country. These citizens believe that
this is and OF right ought to be.
Christian nation, and that theirs Is
Christian state and Christian city.
SO believing they refused to vote
for candidate for Mayor who dei1o-
erately defied these high convictions
they declined to support for the chief
law officer OF their city man who
challenged the best sentiment OF
the nation; man who woald make
Gods holy Sabbath day Of debauch-
F, cry: man who does not know the
difference between liberty and license.
fThis man attacked the most cherished
ideals of the American citizen; he
elevated the saloon and degraded the
home: his appeal was to baser pas
sions and not to the higher and mob
Ter impulses OF the citys citizenship.
This candidate bore the party label;
he was stamped officially the Demo
cratic nominee. but thousands OF life-'
\ IN rrIn