The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-08-20
Editor Courier,

Editor Courier,
1t may be out of date to mention it
now, but the other day l picked up an
old copy of one of he N~onpartisan
organs, and read a long creed about
the treason" of certain North Dako-
to officials who dared to have a mind
of their own. 1t made mi mad enough
to want to speak right out in meet
ing. To get right down to he funda-
mentals Of citizenship, there is and
there cannot be any such thing as trea-
son to a party. Treason is a crime
that can only be committed against
the government. We are members of
a political party, not for the sake of
the party, but that througkNhat par
ty we may best further the Hterests of
our common country. and take an
intelligent and effective part in our
common affairs. 1t is the voters duty
to align themselves with that parry
which nearest represents his honest
convictions, it is his further duty to
change his party affiliations when
ever necessary to keep in line with
his convictions, and to render his de-
| cision as unbiased and u%ninfluenced
as he would expect a juror to do in
some case in which he was vitality in
terested, for in a political campaign
are we not all jurors, sworn to decide
between different sets of ideas?. In
duty bound to listen and to weigh
the arguments Of all parties; as much
as we would be to listen to both sets
of witnesses where life and death de-
pended on the trial.
And if the voters act together not
for the sake Of the party, but for the
sake of the common good, once elect
ed, the official is the sworn servant
of all the people, regardless of wheth-
er their votes were cast for or against
him. If an official were absolutely
certain that every vote in his behalf
vas cast by a farmer, still would he
w nc duty to the farmers, that he
does not owe in equal measure o the
merchants, the banker, or the doctors.
Or again, in a triangular contest, the
mar put forward by one party might
be elected by a plurality vote that
falls far short of a majority, be there
some plank in his party's declaration
of objects that was also lightly OPP
posed by the other two, he is in duty
bound to let that matter rest quietly
for if enacted into law through his
accident of power we would have gov
eminent by the minority instead of by
the majority.
The right of the majoriy to rule
rests on their bounden duty to protect
the rights of the minority, even as
they protect their own, or in other
better words "to do as they would be
done by" but SO | say there can be
no such thing as treason to the party,
treason to the farmer or treason to
a class, but because this country was
founded with the idea that men should
stand before the law, not by trades or
by creeds, by parties or by professions
but Individually, because injustice to
n is injustice to all, and a duty owed
to m is a duty owed to all, and he
who tries to split the citizens of this
country up into groups and classes,
is a traitor to the very idea on which
our government was founded.
And again l would like to lift my
voice in protest against this stream of
billingsgate which the Nonpartisans
are constantly pouring out instead of
argument, this constant impunging
Of motives, instead of fair discussion
of ideas. They are fond of mention
ing Lincoln, but in Lincoln's speeches
| cannot find that he ever questioned
his opponents motives, much as he dis.
agreed with their judgment, for Lin
coin was a gentleman. Does anyone
think that if Douglas had been Will,
fled, w as the Nonpartisan league
vilify those who oppose them, hat or
that fateful Inauguration Douglas
would have proudly stood with Lin.
coins hat in his hand, saying by hi.
very manner" l am here to render any