Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-03-01

which should be held sacred. A ma
jority of the members of the legisla.
ture representing my party, with an
honest and sincere desire to keep faith
with the people, voted against this
bill, and 1 am of the opinion-in fact
| it is a matter of common knowledge
that considerable number of those
who voted for it did so In spite of
their own personal convictions and
against their better judgment.
My chief objection, however, goes
to the principle which underlies all
bills of this class / am convinced
that the inevitable effect of direct
primary laws undermines our repre-
sentative form Of government, and
that most Of the unrest and instabil-
ity which has arisen in the past de-
cade has been due to the increasing
number Of laws of this character
which have been in operation. Our
country has become the greatest In the
world because we have had a represeu
tative form of government. In the
past generations the representative
system of nominating candidates has
produced great leaders. The primary
system produces followers. The rep
resentative system has permitted the
sober second thought Of the people to
prevail. The primary fans to flame
the passion and the prejudice Of the
moment. The representative system
is one in which principles hold the
stage. The primary but promotes the
ambition of the individual, and it is
i'm this soil the demagogue best flou-
rishes The greatest menace to the
security of our liberty and the eff
cheney Of our government is the man
who would seek to capitalize each
fleeing prejudice for his own advar
cement. Alexander Hamilton -,nce
said:
"a dangerous ambition more often
turks behind the specious mask of
zeal for the rights of the people than
under the forbidding appearance of
zeal for the firmness and efficiency of
government History will teach us
that the former has been found a
much more certain road to the intro
duction of despotism than the latter,
and that of those men who have over
turned the liberties of the republics
the greatest number have begun their
career by paying an obsequious court
to the people; commencing demagog-
ues and ending tyrants."
1t is this class which is developed
by the direct primary system. The
danger to our republic may not be
immediate, but l am convinced 1t is
very real.
The history of the world has DEM
onstrated that organized effort is es-
sential to success. The combined eff
forts of individuals agreeing upon
policy or plan is necessary before
such policy or plan can be success
fully applied. We organize in our re-
ligion and our charities. We organ
ize i'm our business. We organize in
our recreations. Our chambers of
commerce. our business clubs, our
lodges, the very primary league wnlch
the instigators of this bill found 1t
to promote to further thelr
purboses. all testify to the necessity
and power of united effort. What is
true of our everyday activities is no
less true of affairs of state. Polltl-
cal parties are but associations FORM
ed by citizens holding similar IDEAS
rs to principles of government. Sucn
associations insure order in the ad-
of our political affairs
without them there would be chaos.
A few days ago we celebrated the
anniversary of the birth of the great |
pst statesman the world has ever
known. No man was more beloved |
No mans Judgment and actions have
have had a greater part in guiding the
destinies Of this nation. He was
firm believer in political parties, ana
he also firmly believed in necessity
nf organized and unified effort in the
translating of political principles into
governmental acts. He openly and
advocated the conyen-
tion system of nominating candidates, !
and. TO drive home hfs argument Tor
tbe necessity of such conventions, he |
usd this language:
"Tbat sunion is strength is truth |
that has been known, illustrated, ana
declared In various ways and forms |
In ALI ages of the world. The great
fabulist and philosopher, Aesop, Illus
trated it by his fable OF the bundle Oh
sticks. and He whose wisdom sur
na sses that of all philosophers has
declared that "a house divided against
Itself cannot stand 1t is to induce |
our friends to act upon this import
ant and universally Acknowledged
truth that we urge the adoption OF
the convention system"
So spoke Abraham Lincoln. Prin-
niples do not change, and / am con-
tent to stand with him.
Respectfully,
@. @. MOORE, Governor.