, 1879-06-15

4oS.3 &uA u eaA tItU4fA4J A1oeCHoAsA4J Ia eA4%@A
it establishes precedent. tho following up
Of which will have the effect to strike de-
cisive blow at the very root of Mormonism.
I
POLITICAL HONOR AND PARTY INTERESTS
The case in point ia this: Mr. PENDnEToN,
Democratic Senator from Ohio, has intro
duced aud advocated in the Senate bill to
incorporate the responsible, or perhaps more
properly the responsive, principles in our
system Of government Mr.. BArARn, q
Democratic Senator from Delaware, takes
occasion to apply this very principle in a
proper and manly way when his own party
in the Senate have practically voted
want of confidence in him as Chair
man Of the Finance Committee; then
Mr. THURMAN, Democratic Senator from
Ohio, with his associates Qrobably including
Mr. PEsD1EroN), set about to dissuade Mr.
BArARn from resigning his committee-posi-
ton, because such action would probably
create party disssnsion, and perhaps result in
party defeat This case aptly illustrates the
difference between political honor and parti-
san zeal
FV ACkAA tA12t ILL., l. ENOAk4oNs bV 4Hl &A6 A6
is in earnest about the introduction Of the
responsive system in American politics, and
Mr. BATARD, in his prompt application of
that system in bis own case, are considerably
in advance Of their party, and that they will
find little sympathy among the managing
politicians or the masa OF Democratic voters.
The basis Of Democratic party politics is the
spoils system. To very large extent the |
same vicious doctrine has infected other !
party movements in this country but tbs |
Democratic organization is the avowed adyo-
cate thereof. The whole conduct of the |
Democratic party, ever since it has come into |
tie control Of both Houses Of Congress, has |
been governed by the single desire to
mcguire the control of the Executive /
and Judicial ns well as the Legis-
[nive branches Of the Government,
with the single and selfish view Of possessing
and distributing the patronage that is a.
tached to the dominant party. To this end
the party managers have struggled to break
down the barriers heretofore set up in the
national laws against fraud and violence at
he national elections, in order that the
coughs and repeatars in certain Northern
,ihes, and the ballot-box suffers and desper-
sdoes in certain Southern States, may vio-
entity and fraudulently overcome honest ma
critics. It is not strange, therefore, that
here should be vigorous resistance to a
like that Of Mr. BAYARps,
rhich threatens party dissension and is based |
lpon what the party politicians regard as an
bstruse and sentimental matter of personal
onor and dignity which they cannot under
tand.
Mr. BAzAnD has an opportunity, in thiisin-
tance, Of setting an example to his own
arty, and Of establishing precedent that
1ay be Of great benefit to the future poll
cs Of the country, by carrying out ,
is resolution in spite of the parti-
IN opposition he is .encounterinG It 6
doubtful, however, whether be will I
ave the courage to proceed in this business :
5 his own conviction prompts him. The !
olitical sense Of his party and Of the coun- c
y generally seems to be too grove1ing to | s
old out any real encouragement to such :.
solution as Mr. BAEARDs. He has to deal a
18th the Caucus, and the Caucus has no
gher aim than party SUCCESS. The party 6
anagsrs fear that Mr. BAYAnD's resignation =
ON the Finance COMMITTEES may broaden r
le differences between the. hard-money s
emocrats and the soft-money Democrats, +
i'd thus endanger party success either in
10 West or in the East. They prefer that T
e Democratic fight shall be made on the
.rd-money basis in New York, and on the
ftmoney basis in Ohio, leaving it to chance
determine which Of the two factions shall c]
minate and finally control the legislation c]
the country. It is not matter Of pr1nci n
o for which they are contending, but the Il
ssesslon Of the Offices and the enjoyment SC
the spoila. ca
The responsive system h government is Il
cessarily dependent to large extent upon "
voluntary adoption thereof by the ruling in
rites and the active political 1eaders. No
= nor set Of laws con So formulate that NJ
'nclple as to give it a permanent and relie- | ds
place IN the politics Of nation; there th
u always be ways and means to evade il ar
long as partisan interests are held to be-
to the interests of the Govern ia,
mt and to individual convictions. What 10
politics Of this country needs is better tin
1cation and higher purpose among the to
ing classes. When such man as Mr.. ha
rARD is ready to respond to the majority. rol
majority should be ready to respond to
byan active sympathy with the high sen to
ent that dictates his action- But this thu
dition Of things would render the calling aro
the demagogue good deal less profitable On,
influential in American politics than it is | tax