Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-05-11
WHICH PARTY NEEDS "HARMoEfzfEG :

Not few writers in the press manifest
Just now much concern over the " harmon.
izing" of the Republican party. Grave
fears are expressed, especially by host OF
Democratic journals from California to
Maine, that any attempt at reorganization
will result in revolution, and that the ef-
forts to conciliate the discontinued will not
result in retaining the independent Repub'
lican vote. In most cases-there are some
exceptions-the wish that there shall be
disruption of the party is i'll concealed. As
4 rule, when the enemy is much disturbed
concerning yonr course of conduct, it
is safe to conclude that you are
pursuing the proper line of action.
The truth is, the fears expressed
are groundless. There never was and
and never will be party in which there
will not exist differing opinions as to the
policy of its conduct. In the very nature
of things this must be SO. But no one can
place his finger on an instance where those
sincerely attached to the principles of the
Republican party have deserted it for the
camp of the opposition. No one denies
that there has been discomfort, and it has
uniformly grown out of the attempt of
bosses to rule, and the ignoring by such
OF the wishes and counsels of the indepen-
dent element, which is the chief factor in
the composition OF the party. The New
York council called to meet soon for the
purpose of harmonizing matters, not for
reorganization, has reference solely to the
resentment manifest against the machine
men and "the bosses" 1t is not pro-
posed that single principle constituting
the substructure of the party shall be
modified, nor has the slightest fear been
entertained that any of the recognized
great leaders and lights of the party would
abandon it. Whenever there is abandon
ment of the Republican party by any re-
s2ectable number of its adherents, if ever
that should be, our Democratic friends
will find that it will be done to form a
new, and not to enter the ranks Of the
Democratic party. which has neither rea.
son for present existence nor hope for the
future. To sound the rally on the eve of
a Presidential campaign is the custom and
necessity of political organizations; but
it is not Indicative of there having
been desertion. 1t is one of the best
evidences of the internal strength OF the
Republican party that, by reason of the
spirit of Independence Of its rank and
file it can infiict self.chastisement and
suffer that good may come. This was true
last year, and, as Mr.. Curtis has concisely
put it, leading Democrats fully and
frankly acknowledge that the Democratic
triumph was but Republican discomfort, y
not desertion, not abandonment of the
party for that of the enemy. The causes
which lead men to distrust the Democracy
in power still exist. The successful con-
duct of the nation under Republican ad-
ministration is not likely to lead the men
of the party to change for the sake OF
change. The Republican party can settle its
domestic differences without the fear of dis
ruption, which has ovsrtaken its opponents
on every occasion when there was mere
difference Of opinion as to party
policy. The conservative thought Of