Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-04-16
rae constitutional Convention.

There is evidently strong move
ment in both parties towards q
Joint non-partizan ticket for mem
bers Of the Constitutional Conven-
ton. Much can be said in favor of
such project in ordinary times.
Each party is apt to be on its met
al and to urge into prominence its
very best men. To the extent to
which this generous rivalry may
be excited the result is beneficial.
It has been known to work happily
In several instances, notably in the
last Constitutional Conventions OF
New York and Pennsylvania. In
both of those cases, however, there
was provision in the acts calling
the Convention which secured an
equality of representation to each
Of the great national parties. The
act calling Constitutional Con-
vention for California contains no
such provision; and, indeed, it
would not be practicable for the
reason that third party is in the
field in this State which boasts
that it has greater strength than
either of the old parties.
The Democratic and Republican
parties in California to-day find
themselves confronted by a new
and untried organization, which
insolently asserts that both
have survived their useful
ness and that both are gan.
grened with corruption. Kear-
neyism, although it has not ram
ification in any other State in the
Union, vaunts its ability to rout,
horse, foot and Dragons, adverse
ries with history and an almost
invincible National organization.
The adoption of a common ticket
would look to many like craven
confession of inability for either to
enter the field singly with hope
of success against Kearney. 1t
would give countenance to the allie
cation that no real political differ
ences separated the two National
parties, and that they are only held
together by the cohesive power of
public plumber. 1t seems 70 us
that such a course would be impol-
itic in the extreme; and, as DEM
ocratic journalist, we beg to say as
much to those leaders of the party
who shall assemble at the Palace
Hotel conference on the Gath inst.
The union of their opponents would
be a pregnant compliment to
Kearneyism which could hardly
fail to energize its campaign. Our
voice is but one in many; but, be-
fore the party has spoken through
It's official organization, the most
rigid party usage aceords us the
right of protest against course
which, we think, would jeopardize
the best interests of the Dem ocratic
: party.
1t seems to us that the most sa-
gacious policy the party could adopt
would be TO inaugurate an enthu-
siastic Democratic revival. We
ehAv,ld caa 70 ~ that MAN op,;papt
for character and ability are called
to the front. We should put into
the field our best speakers, and we
should adopt a platform to govern
the action of the delegates which
would sound the whole gamut of
Democratic principles. The asser-
ton that Constitutional Conven-
ton should be non partizan is so in
very limited sense. IF the prin-
ciples of party are patriotic and
admirable the followers of that
party should aim to engraft them
upon the organic law of State
Never was the party line drawn
more distinctly than in the Con-
vention of 17SS, which formed the
present Federal Constitution, and
certainly the presence in that body,
IN large numbers, of the men who
were the originators of the Demo-
cratic party, was the only thing
that then prevented strongly CEN
tralized government, such as the
Republican party has since so uni
formly favored, from being imposed
upon the people of the United
States.
We think that there never was a
time in which the Democratic
party was called upon moro en-
phatically to show its indestructible
vitality than now. TO the argu-
ment that it is necessary to make
Roadway against Kearneyism we
answer that, in our opinion, the
most infallible way Of stimulating
Kenrneyism would be to tacitly
concede the fact that it is invinci-
BILE as against the Democracy.
There is an elixir in such a compli-
mont that would fire their blood
aud give them an appearance of
strength at a time when both the
old parties would have released
their hold on their followers. A
Democrat will feel himself bound
to vote for the recognized candi-
dates of his party, but it by no
means follows that he will see any