The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-10-16
MORAL OBLIGATIONS IN POLL.
TICS

Nc DClAEke AAAdA VIC cAC do AAoNA cAA
in our politics as anyone can be. We
hold to the belief that everyone has
right to the exercise of his fran
chise without dictation, let or him
drance of any kind. We hold to The
belief that it is a sacred obligation
and should be so exercised, and in the
exercise of which no man should be
belittled nor ostTacised.
We koit 20 the belief that the man
who has tire courage CT his cOnvic-
tions. though in a hopeless minority,
should be commended and applauded
for the open and valiant exercise Of
the same.
But We do not believe that a per-
son has the right. either moral or po-
HucaL TO march under more than one
political flag al the SANG time.
Each political party has its own or
ganization. and the management and
conduct Of the same is entirely a fam
lily affair in which his neighbor, repre-
senting a different household. has no
concern.
No democrat has any right in a pop
ulist or republican convention, help
ing to shape their policies and die
tate their platforms.
If this were trUe-if the stronger
party were permitted to participate
in the councils of the weaker party
it could easily capture and control it,
dictate its policies or put it out of
/ business.
And following the same line of ar
gument, the members of weaker par
ties have no right TO participate in the
councils of the stronger party. ally
ing themselves to a faction of it, thus
aiveyJing II from Its true course and
foisting Unon it candidates that do
not truly represent its principles
Bringing the discussion down to
home affairs. we do not hesitate to
emphatically assert that the demo
Gratis Of Marion county have no right
to take part in the councils of the
pOpuIist party. and. because OF its
greater numerical strength. control it
and make it turn its guns against it
self: nor has the democratic party
any moral right to participate or aff1l-
late with republicans in their party
conventions, and try and dictate their
nominations and platforms. for the
reason that they belong to a different
/ political household.
Nor, on the other hand, has a pop
ulist or republican any right to par
ticipate in q democratic primary, and
try and control it by voting for its
nominees.
Why?
Because everyone participating in a
democratic primary subscribes, eth
eh actually or tentatively, to a pledge
| to vote for its nominees in the gen
eral election from president to consta-
BILE, and if ne fails to do so he VIC
lates a sacred and binding obligation.
If We accord him this right we must
also accord MIN the right to violate
and repudiate a business obligation
or turn his guns against his own side
in battle.
A man who violates and repudiates
his business obligations has no rating
nor standing in the business world
and the soldier who turns his guns
against his own side in battle is adj
judged a traitor and is mercilessly
shot.
We have been informed that theil
political obligations are resting very
| lightly upon some Of the voters of Ma
rion county.
| Indeed, we near thar there IS .
/ systematic effort on foot to knife Mr.
earn by some of those who are op
posed TO state prohibition.
In his primary speeches Mr.. Carr
did not hide his light under a bush
ell" He told where and how he stood
on every proposition that was up fol-
discussion. He absolutely refused tC
tote water on both shoulders He
gave straightforward and unequivoca
answers 10 every question PROFOUND
ed to him. He was as true TO his con
victions as the needle to the T0le
Making a fight on lines plainly drawn
he was nominated in the first pri
mary over others in the race by
large majority. He was nominate,
by the free and untrammelled whit,
democratic voters of the county
Listen to the argument, please, b!
those democrats who are knitting Mr.
earn,
They say that there is no more NOR
al or political obligation resting upol