Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-26
TIE LIBERAL VOTE.

a. very imnortant element that IS lost slght |
"of-the liberal, or independent, hepup-
"1;can vote. At the time referred to this
"yote constituted very annoying, II not
formidable, element of the opposition, |
"not only because it refused to support |
"the nominations, but because its entire |
"strength was drawn from its ranks.
"There is nothing of this kind to trouble
"t the party now, and with here and there
ga few exceptions, the entire liberal vote
twill be cast for Garfield and Arthur"
This is perfectly true, and it is fact
which must be recognized. The liberal or
independent vote may be regarded as the
conscience of the Republican party. When
ever the party has gone wrong, whenever
the spoilsmen have acquired undue lnhu-
ence in it councils, whenever there has been
a disposition to wink at corruption, when
ever in short symptoms of decentralization
have appeared in the organization, the indie
pendent vote has been withdrawn from the
nominees of the party, and has gone over
to the opposition. 1t is this scrupulous
and conscientious element which has really
enforced higher plane of morals upon the
party repeatedly, and which has preserved
it from that decadence which continued
power too commonly brings to par
ties. -Four and eight years ago the
liberal vote was cast for the Democratic
candidates to great extent. 1t was this
vote which so shattered the Republican
columns throughout the West during the
closing years of Grants second admins
tration. 1t was owing to the detection OF
large part of this vote that the last Pres
idential election was so close. The Demo-
Gratis have fiattered themselves with the
delusion that the vote which helped them
on those occasions was evidence of the trl
umph of their doctrines. They were never
more mistaken. Every victory they have
won since the close of the rebellion they
have owed to the blunders and faults of
their opponents. The Independent vote is
not of character to affiliate permanently
or through conviction with the Democracy.
1t is only necessary to analyze its constit-
uents to make this clear 1t is composed
of men who above all desire good and hon
est and efficient government; who have no
selfish interest in politics; who are IN
telligent beyond the average, and who
insist upon pure methods in politics.
These men were for the most part orig
inal Republicans. Many of them were
old-lin Abolitionists. They were among
the firmest supporters of the Union during
the rebellion. They were among the most
resolute champions of the Constitutional
Amendments. They are all National
lists upon conviction. The principles of the
Republican party are their principles. Its
triumphs have been their triumphs. And
they have only sought to separate them
selves from its errors. Being first OF all
patriots, they could not be brought to put
faction before country, and therefore when
it appeared to them that corrupt men were
controlling the party they had supported,
they withdrew from that party. Their
scope of action was limited in the emer-
gency. They believed that the only way
to save the Republican party was to humble
it, and to do that it was necessary to drive
it out OF power. To that end the indie
pendents ranged themselves temporarily
under the Democratic colors, and testified
their disapproval of the scandals which
were disgracing the administration, by
voting for the opposition candidates.
The result was that the Republican party
appeared to be on the verge of collapse,
but the Democrats had neither the sense
nor the patriotism to make good use of
their opportunities, and all they did was to
render it doubtful whether even bad Re.
publican administration was not preferable
to the best Democratic government attain
able Thesharp lesson meantime did the Re-
publican party good. The bad elements in it
were forced to the rear, and better ones
succeeded to the control. The adj
ministration of President Hayes has been
free from scandals, and it has been demon
strated that the reform spirit is not
dead. With the collapse of the Grant
movement at Chicago the most serious
cause of discord that could have existed,
was removed, and the nomination of Gen.
eral Garfield at once united all elements of
the party beyond the possibility of further
disagreement. With that event the
liberal or independent element ceased
to have a separate existence. 1t
returned to the bosom of the Repub
lican party in full confidence and content.
That party is o-day more harmonious, and
stronger, than it ha, been before since the
campaign which resulted in the first cleo
ton of Grant. When so united the Re-
publican party has always been much more
than a match for the Democracy, and it
will be this year. The Democrats have to
rely altogether upon the elements which
can always be counted upon to vote the
straight ticket, and upon whatever assist
ance can be gained from bulldozing and
fraudulent counting at the South. No
liberal votes Will be cast for Hancock and
English. No votes will be cast for them
which would not have been cast for any
Democratic candidates. The liberals are
back in the arms of their first love, and
there they will stay. There is no motive
for them to go astray. They have gained
their point They intended to nominate a
third candidate had Grant been the choice
of the Chicago Convention, but
when Garfield was nominated they
instantly abandoned their separate
organization, and made it known
that they were completely satisfied.
The Democrats need not therefore count
upon any of that kind of votes. The lib
erals have no Democratic prochvities, and
could not have. They have never yet
voted Democratic ticket because they be-
lieved in Democratic doctrines, nor have
they ever ceased to believe in Republican
principles. The prospect of the Republi-