Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-09-30
UNEMoTIcNAL JOURNALISM.
There are some journals at the present
me- which thourh often conducted with

There are some journals at the present
time which, though often conducted with
great ability, seem in considerable danger
of OVERRIDING the Unconditional role which
they think necessary to the ideal they aim
at. With doubtless the best intentions
these papers tend continually to assume
sneering and skeptical tone when discuss
ing politics. Their chief anxiety appears
TO be lest the people should becoue too
earnest, and they adopt patronizing and
critical manner in regard TO those OF their
contemporaries who are vulgar enough to
hold their beliefs strongly, and who ex-
press their opinions in decided way. We
have been sorry to find so distinguished
journal as the New York E0enia9 Post
falling lately into this line of discussion,
for we are simple enough to believe that
when great consequences are depending
upon political action it is the duty of jour
nalism to represent positive convictions IN
an unmistakable way, and that at such
times only harm can result from assuming
the unhealthy of the alleged crisis, and
throwing COLOR lukewarm-water upon
the enthusiasm of those who think and
feel strongly. The Erening Post recently
published an article deploring the fact that
the current of the present campaign has
set in the direction of what it calls sec
&c tionalisn, and lamenting the DISPOSE
ton of Republican writers and speakers to
lay so much stress upon the danger of
Southern domination. The Post, be it TN
derstood, is Republican journal, and
earnestly desires the success of General
Garfield, but it thinks more effect might
be produced on the public mind by reli-
ance upon the great services the Republ-
can party has rendered to the country than
by forecasting the evils likely to result
from Democratic victory. In case of
this kind there is but one practical mode
of settling such a difference of opinion,
and that is by straightforward reference
TO the facts OF the situation. Is there, or
is there not, danger to be apprehended from
Democratic rule? That is the crucial ques-
ton to be answered. We assert that on
this head the existing facts furnish a
conclusive affirmation. We say that the
issue before the country is not primarily
whether the Republican party has pur-
sued beneicent policy, and has thus
brought prosperity to the nation but that
the most vital issue is the maintenance of
republican institutions, threatened not
only by the prospect of Democratic as
cendancy, but by the actual present con-
dition of things throughout the South.
We declare that the first necessity OF
American politics is the vindication of the
right of every American citizen to cast his
vote as he pleases, and to have it counted
as it Is cast Until that is settled there
can be no room for secondary considera-
tions, for until that is settled constitutional
government will not exist throughout the
United States. Before there can be any
profitable reference of other issues to the
people, it must be determined whether
the voice of the whole people is to be
heard To-day it is not SO heard. To-
day there are fourteen States in which
republican government has ceased to
exist in which the franchise is denied to
the majority in which force and fraud
control all elections, and the ballot is a
mockery and a sham.