Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-06

dismisses with sneer as "side- shows"
to derive that significance which their
own policy has signally failed to give them.
This proves that the usual political condi-
tons are reversed in the present campaign.
Instead Of the side-shows depending upon
the circus, it is the circus which depends
upon the side.shows.
When the Republican and Democratic
parties have real principles and convic-
tions when their platforms represent
fundamental differences of belief on cues
lions which the people are really in contro.
versy upon when the triumph of principle
and not the spoils of office constitutes the
main incentive to action; when the
speeches Of the candidates deal with genu-
inc issues in candid and honest terms :;
there is found no room for side shows. If
at such times they appear, they meet with
little attention or consideration. They are
at once condemned as means of throwing
away votes, and all who hold definite con-
vietions shun them. But this year it is a
signitic ant and incontestable fact that there
has been more vitality and enthusiasm ex-
hibited in connection with the side-shows
than in connection with the circus. The
politicians have been watching these indie
pendent movements with the deepest anxi-
ETY., and they have thought it necessary to
interfere with and try to capture them.
They did this with the Anti Debris Con.
vention. They did it with the Prohibition
Convention. And now they are endeavor-
ing to do it with the Farmers Convention.
In regard to the latter it is generally as
serted that both the great parties will look
upon an Endorsement by the Stockton Con-
vention as presaging the success of the
fortunate ticket. Surely this is remark
able state of things for the two great par.
ties to be in? When was it ever heard of
before that the Republicans and Democrats
could neither trust to their own pro-
gramme, could neither depend upon the
supports their own partisans, but were
obliged to go cut into the highways and
bye-ways, and maneuver for the indorse-
ment OF independent Conventions, whose
only reason for existence was distrust of
the regular organizations?
Thus far it is a significant fact that more
of the " side-shows have indorsed either
of the regular tickets. The only possible
conclusion to be drawn from this is that
the voters who composed them do not be.
lieve in the sincerity and are not satisfied
with the professions, of either of the regu-
lar parties. These latter have therefore
failed in the one object for which they are
organized. The mere fact that go many
separate Conventions have been held shows
that party ties are loosened, and that
earnest men in many quarters will no longer
follow the demagogues who have control of
both OF the regular organizations. The
probability that the course thus far fol.
lowed will be pursued to the end is consid.
cradle, moreover. The prevalence of indie
pendent Conventions indicates a general
breaking-up of party bonds and allegiance.
and to men who have ceased to trust the
old parties, propositions to indorse either
of them are not likely to appeal with much
force. The evidence that the go called
" side-shows " occupy phenomenally i'm
portant position this year, however, is
abundant. At this moment there is pro-
ceeding desperate effort on both sides to
capture the Farmers Convention. 1t re-
mains to be seen what success these efforts
will have but it is plain that the course
of the politicians involves confession of
the weakness and unpopularity of both the
regular parties.
Under no other circumstance would the
Prohibitionists have ventured to put full
ticket in the field. Under any other cir
cumstances they would have been laughed
at had they done 60. But we observe that
this year nobody laughs at them, though
not few scowl at and objargate them.
For it is time of political revolution and
convulsion. The old parties have failed to
inspire confidence. They have made the
fatal blunder of taking exactly the same
position on all questions. They have made
the fatal blunder of trying to dodge the
issues which really interest the people.
The consequence is that they have invited
all manner of independent movements, and
that now, in the extremity of their desper-
alton, they are going about soliciting the
indcrIement of these alleged "side.shows"
The grand old Republican party, the grand
old Democratic party, are each in the
attitude of beggars, and wha. is most re.
markable, they are asking the support of
those who left them because they were SO
manifessly Enthusiastically. 1t is singular
state of affairs, and it shows to what base
resorts politicians will have recourse when
they are inspired by nothing higher than
the love of spoils. Meanwhile the very
abjectness OF their attitude tends TO defeat
their purposes, for it does not require much
political sagacity to see that it would be
imprudent to extend support to those who
most court it. In politics it is always true
that "to him that hath shall be given. !"
II an independent organization wants to
make its votes tell it will give them to the
party which seems strongest not to the
party which most needs them. It follows
from this that the solicitations of the
politicians initiate against their own
objects, and operate as warnings to those
whose Endorsement they seek.
And it seems fair that if the alleged
"side-shows " are really more important
than the circus itself, they should be award.
ed the first place. If the politicians recog-
nizs their consequence they should yield to
them. The old parties appear to have re-
allied that they are both in bad odor.
They dare not depend upon their own re-
sources. They are compelled to look
abroad for support and assistance. But in
so exceptional a year it is not impossible
that the Importance of some of the side.
shows may be developed st the polls as
well as in the campaign, and how then can
they afford TO surrender their individual
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