Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-18
POLITICAL EVILS AND REMEDIES.

organizations from prosperity to decline.
! At the present time this cowardice and in
sincerity prevent both the great parties
from taking bold positions on what are
really the most important issues before the
country. They have sought to leave these
vital questions open, and have endeavored
to take obscure and ambiguous attitudes in
regard to them. To their course the re-
marks of DR.. Woolsey, in his treatise on
political science, apply forcibly. He says
SC 1t may be made question of political
morality to what extent and in what
leases open questions ought to be allowed
Sin party organizations. In general
measures of vast Importance, affecting
1.-THE vital interests of the State at the
moment, the passage of which cannot be
postponed without prejudice to national
interests, can by no means be made open
Questions. The head of party who
would permit such questions to be held
cor rejected within its lines, ought to
sink into contempt, as man who
'ssought to keep IN. power by having as
'few principles as possible. The same
contempt is Justly bestowed on party
(Which will have no declaration OF prin-
"ciples on the most important principles,
g or only declaration which can look both
"ways More than once the parties
Gin the United States have been
afraid to take bold measures on ques-
tons vitality affecting the interests of
''the country" Not only is this so, but
it is evident that the disposition of party
managers to keep grave questions open,
and to avoid committal upon them, is in
creasing constantly Both ths Repub-
licans and Democrats have within the
past ten years given the most
discreditable exhibitions OF their cowardice
and insincerity. The Democracy has dis
played these qualities most markedly, and
has thus earned the distrust of the major
ity, but there have been periods when
nothing but the odiousness of the alterna-
tive would have retained the support of
the masses to the Republican party. The
tendency of party leaders is to hold the
organization back whenever possible, be-
cause forward movement involves the
formation of new issues, and because it is
difficult to tell in advance whether the
party will harmonic on new issues. For
the same reason when questions arise
which cannot be labeled and classified ac-
cording to orthodox party methods, as for
example, the currency and silver ques-
lions, party leaders exhibit the strongest
reluctance to touch them at all, and will
generally rather stultify themselves than
take up a clear position on such subjects.
What they desire most is to hold the
strength of the party together, and there
fore they always prefer to adhere to the
discussion of principles the place of which
is already thoroughly ascertained, and con-
corning which everybody has long since
made up their minds. Mr.. Burke once
undertook to define the politician as a phi
losopher in action, but he is certainly
philosopher who entertains a most unphilo-
sophical dread of progress. The result of
his conservatism is an absence of conviction
which, however convenient to him much as
the absence of a backbone might be useful
to professional contortionist), is apt to
provewearisome if not disgustingt to the pub
lie. All he seeks is stability of party policy.
His motto is 'Rest, and be thankful
When new issues obtrude themselves he
tries to ignore them, and if that cannot be
done he goes round them, or he treats
them as ambjguously as possible. An in
evitabe effect of this insincerity is that
when the new issues happen to be really
grave, those who appreciate their impor-
lance find it no longer possible to rely upon
the old parties for help in regard to them.
So it follows that the very methods taken
by the party leaders to get rid of the new
issues, and to prevent them from affecting
the harmony of the organization, result in
destroying that harmony, and in creating
schisms which may prove fatal In the
case of such an issue as the silver question
the attempt OF party managers to ignore it
must prove futile, for the reason that the
Issue is not in any sense passive one. A
law has been passed providing for tho coin
age of from two or four millions of silver
dollars month Every month, therefore,
the accumulation of silver increases. and
the operation OF the Law has only to be
continued for this accumulation to deter
mine the whole question itself, by bursting
its bounds and flooding the country.
Whether the politicians keep quiet or not
this or something like it must happen if
the law remains in force, and therefore
oowardice is here peculiarly fatuous and
Ineffective
The reason why both parties are SO timid
and infrm of purpose on these important
questions is, however, the next point to be
determined, for upon the correct ascer-
tainment OF this depends the possibility Of
applying remedy. The true cause of party
cowaTdice is, We affirm, the abuse OF party
patronage. AT present the great parties
are enabled to set before themselves great
prizes. An army of place-holders is to be
provided for. A hundred thousand sub
stantial rewards are in the gift of the vic.
tors. Every seat in Congress represents a
distributing point for this profuse patron
age, and the consequence OF this state OF
things is that parties are managed with a
main view to the acquisition and distribu-
ton of the spoils, and that the maintenance
OF principles ard the beneficent conduct Of
the Government are secondary and wholly
subordinate considerations. They are en-
ployed only Tor the purpose OF retaining
public confidence. They are looked upon
much as theatrical properties, to be flung
aside as soon as the play is over. The
great absorbing interest of party politics is
the offices, and everything else is merely