Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-28
TIE pIsIETEGRArIoH OF TIE OLD
PARTIES.

hopes for themselves upon this deca'ience
of their historic rival, they are deceiving
Themselves The truth is that tie Demo
cratic party is also undergoing disin tegration,
and the shrewdest and clearest-sighted
Democrats have already realized this fact.
All the signs Of the times indicate that the
two old parties are on the verge of the
grave. The beliefs which once animated
and inspired them have become meaning.
less. Their purposes have been either
finally achieved or finally frustrated. The
differences which formed the reasons of
their existence have ceased to exist. Moth
ing over which they once fought so fercely !;
nothing Of those considerations which first
consolidated the two organizations out of
the remnants of older parties remains in
issue. All the convictions and ideas of
1860 have passed into final history. This
accomplishment of the mission of the par.
ties ended several years ago, and since then
they have been living, first upon the memo
ries of the past, and, second, upon the
discipline and machinery which long war
fare had established. Whoever has traced
the history of the great religions of the
world knows that it is essentially identi.
cal in all cases. At first the creed is pure,
and the church rests upon conviction. As it
grows in power, however, the rules of con-
duct are less and less regarded. Ceremonial
ism gradually takes fireplace of simple faith.
Aud in due course it is found that the
inner living heart of the religion has be-
come altogether obscured and concealed by
thick husk of form and ritualism. Just
go ia it with political organizations. They
begin with conviction they end with the
machine.
Between these extremes, however, every
party must undergo process of complete
transformation and degradation. The Re-
publican party entered upon it's career I'm.
der the brightest auspices. 1t represented
the highest and noblest views, the most
single-minded patriotism, the Hottest
humanity, the wisest craftsmanship, the
soundest morality. 1t gathered under its
banners all that was most intelligent, and
progressive, and high. minded, and public
spirited, and president, and enthusiastic.
No greater party ever assumed the control
of great nation. And it did its work well.
Il put to rest forever the heresy of seces-
sion. 1t raised the negro out of slavery,
and gave hin equal rights before the law.
1t advanced the organic law to the full
limit of the intelligence of the times. But
it should have died when it's work was
done. As to the Democratic party, for
twenty years it has represented little more
than regations. 1t has stood for little
else than the sullen suspicion, resentment
and hostility of the defeated agencies of
evil and barbarism which the Republican
party was called into being to clear from
the national path. Yet its motives
during the rebellion were less sordid and
more intellectual than they have ever been
since. From 1865 EDWARDS it has been
masquerading in the most grotesque and
Unsolicited costumes, always depending
for success upon its ability to make itself
appear other than it really was.
But of late the two parties have almost
come together. The elements which gave
to the Republican party all its glory of
old have little by little withdrawn from
the front. First they resigned the lead
ership, because their work was finished.
Then they retired further back because
their successors adopted methods which
did not please them. And they have been
withdrawing year by year, and the former
rear of the party has been coming for.
ward, until now the original positions are
reversed. The old camp. followers and
bummers are in command, and the veter-
ans who made the party are hating in the
rear, debating with themselves how much
longer they can follow this degraded and
demcralized array. There are no longer
any high principles, any public spirit, any
burning Issues. The two old organizations
airy troops employed in Italy during the
middle ages used to having an agreement
between themselves that the campaign
shall be spun out as much as possible, and
that there shall be very little real fighting.
Nor is there any more dependence upon
Republican enthusiasm. To-day it is the
"machine" that is relied upon, and the
military chest is furnished by the black.
mail called voluntary contributions"
Meanwhile new questions are coming up
which are already exercising disintegrat.
ing effect upon the old parties. The lead
ers of the latter have not the skill to read
the public mind. They think sham issues
will serve their turn, and they are using
them. But there are real and serious
issues before the people, and since the old
parties are afraid to deal with them, new
parties will be formed for this purpose.
And this ia the meaning Of the political
decomposition now SO manifestly proceed
ing. In New York, in Pennsylvania, in
Ohio, in Indiana, in Iowa, in California,
this change has already progressed far.
Popular confidence in the old parties is
dead. Popular impotence at their coward
ice and dishonesty has reached the point of
new political creation. Great social and
economic questions are coming to the front,
and will not be put off. The inevitable
battle between Free Trade and Protection
is clearly destined to be the most formida-
BILE political movement in the United
States. The Tariff Commission, which was
appointed for no other purpose than to stave
off reform agitation, has produced results
which can only hasten such action. The
great temperance question also looms up,
and is operating as an active disturbing
agent in the old parties. It cannot any
longer be played with. 1t insists upon
serious treatment, and those who daily
with il are lost.