The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-06-04
POLITICS. AND FACTIONALlSM.

POLITICS AND FACTONALlsM.
Politics is the proper conduct of the public business. putting
into action the principles of government which seem best to secure
the public welfare. 1t may be said never to happen that all men
agree as to what policy is best for the public good, and these differ
ences Of individual opinion cause sections of public thought, each
section being in harmony in a general sense and differing from an
other section. These aignments bear the general name of Party.
These general principles which obtain in the minds of the greater
number of people become the opinion of the majority, hence of the
ruling party. Though not strictly pertinent to this discussion we
will say that the majority is not always right, but when their princi-
Piles contain error the error usually destroys the supremacy of the
party practicing it.
Now Faction is a very different matter. 1t is, commonly speak
ing, a division within a party itself wherein two men, or sets of men,
holding the same general principles seek leadership within the party
itself, often for some selfish end. Hence Party and Faction may, we
think, be properly differentiated thus: Party is practice of princi-
pies; Faction is the leadership of Men. One is the general action
for the public good; the other is a selfish movement for an individu-
ais benefit. Party adherence is not only expedient and necessary,
but benevolent. fractional practice is TOO often violently descriptive
of party harmony, and is in its very essencet the superlative express
sion of sel6shness. An endeavor to place the individuals advantage
above the public good; placing the man above the commonwealth
and a person above principles.
We have in Mississippi today such a condition run wild. A man
who coming into public view through no worthy effort, but through
a combination of unfortunate circumstances, poses as a martyr and
was accepted by a sympathising. kindly public at his own estimate.
An object of public pity and compassion, he was considered by
many a S a. lonely free lance battling. for the right. He was an hum
Bile suppliant for public sympathy and tor public charity. Pity
the emotion-and Charty-the resultant action, are two of the most
dynamic factors impeling human action, and too often they consti-
.r+e m welded narentaoe of Error Being emotional thew are
never reasonable.
But this adventurer into the domain of public life, appealing
only for the garment of charity, and the soace of pity, a single,
LONELY man without following, came and touched the great heart of
our people and they elevated him to an important Office on an aims
plate. Pleading no merit in himself; without one plea except to
1.-THE humanity of the people; lonely and desolate, and beaten like
the wayfarer on the road to Damascus, 10000 Mississippians became
Good Samartans and took him to their hearts.
But, mark you, this was four years ago. Now this lonely pill
grim O n the sands of sorrow has become a doughty knight. His
pennon hutters to the breeze and Bots Gilbert did not 60 more
haughtiy to the lists at Ashby de la Zouche than does this erst-
while suppliant a. the throne of mercy approach the polls. He has
become a "leader" of a Faction. Without his license no man may
enter office he thinks. Without his hall mark no mar may expect a
vote. Like the mendicant knights of the Temple Boosting their
poverty, he has developed, like them, into the naughty superior of
sovereigns-the people. He is followed by a motley retinue OF
coat tail hangers and clackers, most of them without claim to public
consideration or notice. A motley. clamoring, hungry following,
who hope to ride into Office in his name.
This is a Faction, and it is a faction arising from the pest house
with all the vermir of poverty. mock-humilty and beggarly aims
seeking clnging to it. Having no Just claim to public respect OF
support, except that they ar followers of one ma whose paths lay
in the dingy purleus of folly, and some think, even worse. A mar
who processes every principle he thinks is popular, and holds tc
none. Who is himself the ultimate expression of the most intense
and absorbing sehshness.
This Faction is seeking power at our hands. If we are going t
admit this hungry flock of birds of prey into our legislative temple
= at Jackson, we should tear down The eagle who spreads his lordl,
wings over the august dome of our stately capitol, and place
hungry buzzard there.