Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-13
wBAr rAar1sAvsaIp CAN DO.

the history OF the Y nlted oGales roiii lAS'
time to the present has demonstrated the
accuracy of that provision. All parties are
in the beginning based upon principles
which appeal to the reason OF men IN
their earlier stages they are undoubtedly
an effective means OF enforcing public opln-
ion. and of controlling and directing
Government. But no matter under what
circumstances they originate, and no mat
ter what elements of patriotism and reason
enter into their initial propositions, the
establishment of their principles immedi-
atelv leads to a change in the character
and asoraIe of the organization, and by al
most insensible degrees it is transformed
into machinery for the maintenance OF
the sordid advantages which were merely
incidental to its primary conception. When
the intellectual combat has been fought
out, and the majority have indoTsed the
principles which they prefer, the benehcent
influence of party organization eliminates
From the moment that party finds itself
in power 1t begins to decline in earnestness,
in public spirit, in devotion to principles
1t NAV cling to the old watchwords, it may
retain the old shibboleths, but thencefor-
ward it tends steadily to intellectual and
moral deterioration, until it has reached the
point at which all its original motives are
obscured, and the sole vivifying influence
remaining is the lust of official power and
official plumber.
When this stage is reached the party
ceases TO be consistent, it has no regard for
even The appearance OF integrity, but 1t
seeks to be all things to all men, and its
constant endeavor is to keep itself IN
power by adopting the popular prejudlces
or passions of the hour, and pretending to
enthusiasm over them. Parties in this phese
of their existence are no longer capable
even Of being ashamed. They trample
upon the very principles by which they
acquired their reputation. They repudlate
the doctrines their former maintenance OF
which obtained them public confidence.
Their one concern is to hold on to what
thew possess, and they are no longer care
full as to the means they employ in this
work. 1t does not indeed require that a
party should be in power to become de-
moraHzed, for the Democratic party has
fallen lower than any other in the history
of the country, in its desperate efforts to
regain the confidence OF the people. 1t has
in fact repeatedly obliged a disguised
country to retain in power those who could
not be trusted, simply because the only
alternative was to put in power those who
were even less reliable.
But there are too many indications that
the dominant party of the present time is
rapidly yielding to the degrading influences
which assail all long established factions,
and the present situation in the United
States Senate is significant reminder Of
the progress that is being made toward
degeneraey. The Malone bargain, not
withstandipg all attempts to cover it up,
stands out in CHASTITY deformity as one of
those discreditable and unprincipled COM
pacts for the making of which most people,
until recently, believed the Democrats
alone competent. The whole plane of the
transaction is go low that it demonstrates
a very much greater Generalization than
appears on the surface. In adopting Ma
hone, the Republican Senators have dis.
tinctly condoned the doctrine Of financial
repuC alton. 1t is nonsense to pretend
thai because Mahone's faction call them
selves "Readiusters, therefore they are not
repudiators The debt of Virginia was not
a carpet bag debt, but in all senses an hon
est debt Itamountedto nearly S33, 900 600.
Riddleberger, the Republican caucus NOM
inee for Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate,
carried a bill through the Virginia Legis-
lature which scaled the debt down to
$40, 500 600. That bill repudiated one
third of the debt, and without any ra-
tioual pretext. It further refused to recog-
nize accrued interest. It reduced the
current interest fifty per cent, and it re-
served the right to tax the bonds in such a
manner that all interest would be cut off.
It was upon this platform that Malone
was elected to the Senate This is his
financial creed. 1t is an Infamous creed,
and those who have adopted him, and
pledged the Federal patronage to his fac
ton, have beyond all serious question
committed themselves to the atrocioua
financial programme which he represents.
When party can do such thing as
this, and above all when it can do such a
thing as this without provoking the in
slant and general condemnation of it's
rank-and file, it is in very serious con-
dition. When further we reflect that this
shameless abandonment of principle, this
hob-nobbing with thievery, has been agreed
upon for no higher purpose than the main
tenance of partisan control of the Serate,
We cannot fail to realize that the signs OF de-
cadence above referred to are here most
copspicuously apparent. When party
has reached the length of caring infinitely
more for the spoils than for anything else
that can be named, il cannot be doubted
that it is approaching the end of its use.
fulness, to say the least. But, it may be
said, i both the old parties are exhibit
ing such hopeless symptoms, what re-
course remains for the people Lei
history answer that question. No party
has ever succeeded in retaining power
long after its inspiration had departed,
unless it succeeded in depriving the people
of their liberties and in changing the form
of government. In such cases new organi-
cations are developed almost OF necessity.
They do not appear full-fedged. They
are not the result of systematic delibera.
tions. They may crop up anywhere in
some apparently haphazard way. They
are little clouds no bigger than mans
hand at FIRST, but if the time is ripe fol
change they swiftly spread and grow until
they have covered the horizon. What the