Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-16

"welfare instead of the good of its polit.
"ical members and the selfish ambition of
"its leaders" Granting the truth of all
this, does not the Posts reasoning inevi-
tably point to the formation of new
party, rather than to the patching up of
the old one? When we begin to talk of
changing the spirit as well as the organiza-
ton of party, it is as well to understand
what we mean. 1t must first be decided
whether SO radical and comprehensive q
change is practicable whether in fact il
would not amount to changing the party
altogether.
The spirit and organization of party
represent the character, methods and aims
OF the men who control the party. Al
present it is clear that the character,
methods and aims of the men who control
the Republican party have ceased to satisfy
the party at large. The latter has in fact
dropped away and left the leaders stand
ing alone. Practically, therefore, the Re-
publican party is in a state of disintegra-
tio1. 1t has repudiated the spirit and or.
gsnization which for many years have
characterized it. The question is whether
it can reorganize as the Republican party,
and this of course includes the question
whether it is worth while to make the at.
tempt. If we turn to the past for enlight.
eminent, we do not find any instance of the
reorganization of a party after it has sus-
tanned so crushing defeat. The Federals
and the Wings simply dissolved when they
had been in like manner condemned. The
elements which had composed them were
never rallied again under the old banners.
New Issues brought new organizations and
new men to the front. Is there any rea-
son why the same thing should not happen
in this case?
II, again, we examine the requirements
stated by the Post for reorganized Re-
publican party, We shall find thatit would
be more difficult to obtain them through
the old organization than through a new
one. For it cannot be taken for granted
that the Republican " Bosses" are pre-
pared to surrender Internationally even
now. They may even be expected to cast
about for explanations of the late reverses
which will not implicate themselves. As
we showed yesterday, Jay Hubbell has
already taken this line, and no doubt the
majority of his associates will do the same.
1t must, therefore, be understood that all
attempts to reorganize the Republican
party will involve great deal of friction,
and it is serious question whether it is
worth while to encounter this friction. On
the other hand it is clear that the ground
has already been prepared for the forma.
ton OF new party. The dissatisfied Re-
publican elements are in precisely the
most favorable condition to form other
associations and combinations. The H.
fuences which gave them conference have
ceased to operate. They are free political
atoms, and whereas they now experience
arepulsion from the old organization, they
are naturally disposed to harmonize under
a new form.
Tho most fatal symptom of Republican
ism to-day is its absolute dearth of issues.
Yet it is plain that there are questions of
great importance before the people, and it
is also plain that the Republican party has
been afraid to adopt these questions and to
deal with them. because they involved re.
form, and because reform was incompatible
with the policy of the leaders. The aboli-
ton of the spoils system and the reform of
the civil service are demanded by the
people. But the Republican party is or
ganized on the basis of the maintenance of
the spoils system, and how, then, can it
take the popular side? AS We have OBJ.
served before, to bring the party to do this
would be to re. create it; and parties are
not re.ereated. There is no prominent
element in the Republican party which can
be looked to for relief in such matter.
Nothing, for example, could be gained by
seeking to substitute the Blaine wing for
the "Ssalwart wing, for the political
methods of both are the same, and genuine
reform would be equally obnoxious to both.
What, then, can be done? To that quss.
ton we may reply that when the time is
ripe for the birth of new party, it always
comes into existence naturally and spon.
taneously, and that if new party is about
t, ha hOrr, mn naat l.
selves at all about the how and the where.
N all probability potent agency in the
development of such an organization will
be the obvious difficulties surrounding any
project for the rehabilitation OF the Repub-
lican party. The desirability of starting
with clean record, moreover, cauno. be
overlooked. AT present the glories of the
Republican party have been completely OBJ
scure1. "Bossism" has corrupted the
organization throughout. Now, a new
party, starting with the enthusiasm of re.
form, cannot desire to be mixed in any
way with the memories of the abuses TO
which it is opposed. It carries virgin
SAASlNy anu ~ WI Jdlhk luSNlCS IL
until it has achieved something worthy OF
commemoration. 1t is indeed possible that
the Republican party may struggle on until
the next Presidential election. The hope
of "reaction" may have that effect.
But if, as seems probable now, the election
of 1854 should go the same way as that of
1851, assuredly there will be no more talk
of reviving the spirit of the old organiza-
ton. It is, however, possible that the
new party may come into existence
before that time, in which case we should
expect that it would carry the country
in 1884 against both the old parties. For
however effete and corrupt tbs Republican
organization may be, there can be no doubt
tina. the Democracy is to the full as rottep,
and as incapable of regeneration. Ii, there.
fore. fresh young psrty, possessing all
the courage of its convictions, keen enough
TO interpret public opinion, free from en-
tangling conditions, innocent of spoils
manipulation, ardent fer reform, should