Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-12-14
In Retro pect

AFTER all. IL could nave been WofS"
Proba hlv not so far as filling the Of
fices j. concerned-this, of course
from a republican standpoint-but in
other and really more important ways
There could have been strife and bit
terness and i'll feeling and the gan
erened political sores that are apt to
follow campaign ah"cy. And while
there were one or two unfortunate
occurrences. when democratic speak
ers took il upon themselves To herate
the opposition. in the main the con-
lest was conducted on higher plane
than frequently has been observed
And this despite the fact that there
have been few campaigns in any state
where there was more intense in
terest
So. in taking stock. it is possible to
find a good many reasons for con-
graduation. Ii is a wholesome sign
that the people of Arizona are so in
tensely interested in their home af-
fairs. Ii is a wholesome sign that
they are determined 10 manage their
affairs in the way that best pleases
them And all this without reference
10 the possible unwisdom of some Of
l.. l.
cided
1t is not To be supposed that any
political body Will establish perfect
government And il is not important
that il should But il is Of supreme
Importance that the people take an
intelligent interest in their govern
ment 1t is essential Is the well being
of the state that each member ~ the
body polite be alive To the fact that
he is member Of the political part
nership whose business ii Is to con-
serve the well being Of each indi-
vidusl member Of that partnership.
Now. The Republican holds pre-
-cisely the same views it has held in
the past. 1t believes the interests OF
Arizona would have been best con-
served by the election of the repub-
lican ticket It believes the interests
OF the whole country would be ad-
vanced by adherence 10 republican
principles. And il believes the time
is not far distant when the republican
party viii be the dominant party in
the affairs Of Arizona. But this
paper is broad enough to say that
the temporary advantage of any
party is Of secondary Importance to
the growth and development OF the
American spirit Of free government.
Popular alertness in the affairs of
stale are absolutely essential to the
maintenance of human liberty.
And there is another thing An
occasional drubbing is good thing
for any party. II is good thing for
the republican party-for the repub-
lican party of Arizona. 1t teaches
it the necessity OF following the pol
icy which was pursued in the cam
paign just closed. of putting its very
best men on the ticket
That an irreproachabe ticket will
not always win has just been demon
strated. But each campaign brings
its own problems; and with repeated
a.ccesses the republicans might have
grown derelict in this most important
matter
1t is, of course. unfortunate from
the personal standpoint, that a ticket
of such sterling worth as that of the
republicans should have been defeated.
But these men lost only the offices
Not one of them sacrificed the res
pect of the people Of Arizona. and
what is Of vastly greater Importance.
not one of them sacrificed his own
respect. And there are men-very
republican column on the election bal
lots. who will yet be heard from in
the political affairs of the new state.
And right here il is not out OF
place to say that the people OF Arr
IONA have done their final duty in
the matter Of working for statehood.
They have complied with the law
governing our admission into the
union. There is now no further bar
TO the contamination Of the long de-
layed event. In reE short weeks
Arizona will be full fledsed mem
Der of the union in good standing"