The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-04-16
Parties aud Principles.
FInnk | .ealloIa Wenkly.

It's known that for long series OF weeks
the Hon. Mr.. Weaver, Of Iowa, hns been
seeking 10 obtain the recognition Of Speaker
Randall 10 tho House Of Representatives, for
the purpose of Offering resolution express
siye of the financial orudilies which no en-
torains in common with the Greenbacker !
but tho Speaker has refused 10 award him
the privileges Of the floor by reason Of tho
priority given 10 reports and resolutions
from the committees of the House, Az the
same time Il Il charged that the action of the
Speaker In this matter has political lnspIra'
ton, and Is prompted by desire TO prevent
the introduction If any resolution which, by
tho vote had upon lis adoption or Rejection,
would disclose the fchism between tho Hard
Money aud the Soft Money Democrats,
Since tho sohism cannot be healed, II n
deemed "good party tactics TO conceal u
until tho ensuing Presidential election Is
overpasL
Not many days ago.Mr Townshend, of Ill
inois, submitted measure for the revision
of the tariff ia three Of It's schedules and,
without tho conscious prIyity Of the House,
procured IL reference 20 tho COMMITTEES on
Inc Revision Of the Statutes, instead Of the
C,mmi tee on WAYS md Means, TO which II
properly belonged. That in SO doing he
compasscda legislative surprise upon the
a. ouse Is incontestble, and yet 80 simple II
matter as the reference of this simple meas
uIe WIS not effected without stubborn and
exciting contest running through three
DAYS session. That the ocean Of Congress
siounl ora,ory should have been tossed in o
tempest in order to watt such u feather and
TO drown such fly, is ex-
planned BY tho fact that nei-
ther Republicans nor Democrats
ARE Mt unity among themselves on the sub
ioct Of tariff reform Tho Democrats Of
Pennsylvania, of Maryland and Of Loulsi-
ana ARE known to be in favor of tho restrict
i've policy wherever it subserves the interests
of their constituents, but the great mass Of
the Democrats from other States are oppos-
ed TO protection for projections sake. The
great mass of the Republicans from the
Eastern and Middle States are known MS stall
wart upholders of protection, but Republl-
cans from Western States are growing more
and more outspoken in their aversion to the
theory and practice of our present tariff acts.
Hence the timidity with which the managers
of both parties stand aloof from Lying Is
sue which threatens 70 shattcr tho ill-com-
pacted shells Of their political organizations.
In the presence of events like these the
whole country lisa witness to the TACT that our
nominal political organizations are wider
than the buses of doctrine and principle on
which they once refused to rest, and ON which
they founded their claims TO popular ceniI-
dencc and support. The name and the ex-
ternal traditions OF the Democratic and Re
publican parties have been handed down to
tho men who are now assuming to be their re-
spective leaders, but on more than one OF
the living questions Of the hour, we lind
De nocrats and Republicans who, in order to
ke ;, within the limits of their respective Or
CARNATIONS, are compelled to dlssemble or
suppress their real convictions.
The evils of this tatering in double sense
are at once manifold and obvious. 1t strips
political organization of dignity, purity and
maniness BY despoiling il Of vitality and
truth. Constitutional government can be
maintained only in "a country which has IN
telljpence and virtue enough to maintain an
honorable and an honest competition be-
tween the parties which confront each other;
and to do hi. the adherents Of party must
believe in the truth and importance of the
principles for which they contend. Fictitious
issues must not be invented for the purpose
of carrying elections" Vital issues must
not be ignored in order 10 protect u fungus
growth which seems to add strength to the
organism All such resorts of a calculating
expediency are the sure precursors OF polt-
cal decay. They prove that the tru" spirit of
life has departed from the body which it once
animated, and that the way las been opened
for unclean spirits to enter in and take pos
session of the carcass. The willy and dex-
ferrous management of machine politicians
now takes the place of popular forces In
stead of parties filed with generous enthus-
asm for the ideas they emb dy and represent,
E we have automatic worked by wires in the
z hands Of men who control "prmaries" and
conventions" Between this decadenca and
"A the politics of Mexico there is but single
e step. When men and not principles, when
n mere success MS an end and not measures of
public policy, addressing themselves to the
y reason and conscience of the people, are the
bonds of political confederation, we have
prepared the way for that weakest of all gov
ernments-the government of "the strong
man" What the government of the strong
man. ends in may be seen to-day in the Gar
of nil the Russios covering behind General
Melikof.
But if these are evils of our present polti-
r cal situation, it is only just to say that tue
situation has its opportunities for good rs
well. In proportion ms parti-s lose their bond
of inner conference, they lose their hold on
the best elements that previously entered into
their composition. The political managers
of the passing hour make "a great mistake If
they suppose that the rank and file of their
former constituency are to be held "like dumb
driven cattle" within the traces of the politl-
cal machine. The world is still governed by
moral forces, and woo to the party or par
ties which break themselves to pieces by
offending against them. Neither of the two
great historical parties which have lately
divided the country can afford 10 make
up the issues of the coming Presiden-
tial election without taking the convic-
tions of the independent voter" into its
account. The Independent voter has his
convictions, and he will neither cloak them
nor sell them. For the present he may be
adisregarded factor in the Vaccinations of
the political wire-puller, but it will be well,
on next election day, for that party which
shall have paid the most heed to his wishes
and his legitimate sensibilties. Never be-
fore did the party uniform sit so lightly on
the shoulderso of its wearers, now that so many
among our train-band captains have turned
it into the livery of faction and made it the
badge of personal politics. The situation of
the country is full of perils incident to the
decay of brave and honest craftsmanship
in our public men, but the situation is also
full of opportunities to the party which shall
IL.