New Britain herald., 1918-04-08
COMMUNICATED.
10 the Editor Of the Herald:
Dear Sir:


Zig men may honestly seek & pub
he office by way of volunteering the
: nest that they have for the public
, Sood, as Il patriot volunteers to be
/ come ana active soldier that he may
serve his country in The trout ranks
! by fearlessly fighting the enemy; but,
the bigger tho man the moro does he
! Let the office seek him. Statesmen
volunteer; politicians seek. In local
elections mere party lines have little
, meaning. Indeed, even in our nation
al elections, tine Issue IN the future
must be more definitely understood
than is implied by the loose partisan
platforms Of parties or political
statements of candidates and nom
ineoS.
Superficial cam paiSn criticisms by
cOntendimg aspirantS to office are not
prompted by Principles: and, face to
, face with our present awful world
crisis, the question is less. is the can
didatc Democrat or q Republican,
but, rather arc We voting for ser
want of uncompromisinG Americanism
"a public servant who is above the
mere politics of soft words to win
votes, but whose yea. yea, and nay,
enough rather to be right than to be
President?
The political chicanery employed by
the average campaign speaker can
hardly be considered educational; it
is the uneXtirpated curse on Democ-
racy, which, instead of arousing a
people to actual self government, sub
ieCtS the electorate to the deception
Of plausibility, instead of arousng in
thcm an enlightcn ent of Principle.
IN municipal election, the question
should not be. is a candidate a Demo
Crat or Republican; the first point
Of Importance qualifying a chosen
candidate which should concern the
voter, is, is the man for whom l vote
real American or not?
This question may not be an easy
one for each voter to decide for him.
self. But the time, is upon us when
the question Of voting must be con-
sidered 4 serious duty rather than n
light privilege. Democracy must free
itself from the sin Of a possible mis-
use Of the ballot.
When enlightenment hits all whose
privilege it is to exercise the elective
franchise to true appreciation of the
ideal Of democracy, voters will hold
tHe ballot as n little less than sacred
Voters must learn the meaning Of
government by Principle, and chosen
candidates for office should possess
sufficient Principle not to stoop TO
play upon the latent personal inclin-
atoms or conspicuous racial preju
dices for the sake of mere vote get
ting. The so1f1shnesS in politics where
mere political eXpcdicnCy supersedes
the requirements or Principle, must
ultimately react upon the people |
themselves. Therefore, wise voters !
Will watch before election, to guard !
{ gainst the personal influence which |
appeals TO them SO p1easingly in |
words as TO prevent, or at least not |
enhance their own best Judgment |
Even if an honest candidate of an |
OF her party promises g better govern |
m emf, than he may claim our we'll |
tried and at least somewhat proved |
Mayor has given, it does not follow |
that the new candidates good inten-
tons would be emonstrated by him,
were be elected. A newcomer must |
always undergo the test as TO whether
his ability is equal to his willingness.
On the other hand the best reason
tor. the reelection of our worthy
Mayor is that his previous years Of
more or less experimental service
have fitted him. during another term
10 do better for our city than any new
nan can guarantee to do, and espec-
ally during these still trying war
lines should we waste no time in
SECTIONS. While the law required
periodical election time is here, let us
invite, this year, no unnecessary
'hanges in our official city family, !
through the usual agitation of party
politics; rather let our votes at this
inc be a special confirmation Of
very honest official now serving, and |
m encouragem ent that he continue to
erve as an uncompromising loyal
Nmcrican, so that our city may prove
econd to none, in our individually
md collectively doing our best at
loIping to win the war as quickly rs /
'ossible.
If Mayor Quigiey is willing to serve
or another term as his accepting the
proves that he Is, we can
make no mistake by re-electing him,
or quite regardless of the special
qualifications OF any other candidate |