The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-02
THE TRUE PROVINCE OF PARTIES

THE TRUE FROSiNSE Or ThnAS
Among the most hopeful and gratifying
signs of the times, politically, is the rapidly
growing antagonism all over the country
and on the part of many of the more In
fluential and widely circulated papers to
what is known as party dictation and de-
crees. Ii has been source Of pleasure to
us, on numerous occasions heretofore, TO
noe the various exhibitions OF this spirit
which have lately been made. and IL looks
as if the old time lines of demarcation had
been about practically lain down. 1t Is but
the fate ofpure parties whatever may be thelr
tenets, following or history, to go the way
of all things else of transitory nature, 1t has
been so in our own country, in England, in
the ancient republics, in ever nation indeed
where progress has suggested of necessity
new policies and questions, and where the
personal differences Of one age have been
compelled to give place to greater fraternity
OF feeling in another. And thus 1t is that
the broad field of American politics, con-
slantly increasing just as constantly must
present almost annually subjects for legls-
laton which did not exist previously, and
which, by the very constitution OF things
will produce differences of opinion among
leading minds of the more prominent
statesmen and others of both, or any and
all parties-subjects indeed of vital
significance to all, which have to be
handled with reason and dispatch, and
upon broad patriotic and national prin-
ciples, irrespective of all partisan or sec
tional considerations. Reflections such as
these are rapidly tending to the disintegra-
ton of both parties, republican and demo-
cratic, and in q recent issue of valued
exchange we find the most sensible sugges-
tons as to the proper province OF political
organization we have yet seen. The article
in question remarks; "Why, let the citizen
inquire of his own common sense, should
there exist in this country a perfunctory
corporation called the republican party,
and another perlunctory corporation called
the democratic party? There is naturally
no such party division of the electorate. The
only natural and the only practical division
of an electorate into political parties is that
which presents, on one hand, those who
support, and on the other, those who OPP
pose, the policy or course of government in
relation to great public questions or emer-
gencies The presidents government and
the presidents opposition these arc
the only natural or practical po-
litical parties. All others, OF
whatsoever name, are machine parties, or
ganized and maintained to advance the
personal ends of demagogucs, and to be
made obstacles to the free formation OF
political parties around political questions
as they arise. Destroy and cast out these
machine parties, and there Immediately
appear in their places the political parties
supporting and opposing the politics OF
government When it becomes mere
matter annually Of recurring differences
with the administration as to the wisdom
and propriety of such and such measures
proposed Tor the public good rather than
bitter party ordinations and recrimina
tons or thirst and struggle for the spoil'
of office, the benefit to the country and
people at large would be at once and power
fully manifest. Men would cease TO bt
longer placed in position or entrusted will
great responsibilities simply rs rewards
for partisan services and without regarC
to the extent of their attainments OF
the personal value and signiti
canoe of their names or characters. Indeed
so radical reform could not possibly b,
accomplished in any other way. 1t woulC
free us from the sting and corruption o
party politics. would only produce division
where difference of opinion would insur,
investigation and wiser determinations ant
beget stronger devotion to the real inter
csts of the nation and the matters Of mos
undoubted significance. In the absence o
titled orders, with one language and on
character of country and people, all tn
many constitutional and sectional qucs
lions practically settled, descrtion of par
ties MS such and the substitution therefor c
what our exchange terms the president
government, and the opposition woul
make us SIMPLY one people where now
is the north against the south, ca:
against west or one or more Biographies
, divisions against another. In TACT, gu
n present growing and prosperous condition
Q where an internal peace and develcpmcl
Il are witnessed experienced by no ether II
Il ton, are to be attributed in great measur
Il to the rapidly decreasing tendencies
v mere partisan conflicts and the proportio
:, atcly increasing spirit now maniicsting
n self on all sides to greater consideration
h genuine reform and the live commerci
|. aud financial issues which are now loomil
D. up as of such paramount importance. "
D. only trust that adherence to parties mere
a. as parties will steadily diminish until pri
ia ciple will be the all In all.
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!. FORTY SIXTH INDEPENDENTS DAY ,