Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-03-07
oE "EInso AND Colonies. :,

In Missouri they have new method Of
designating division in the Democratic
party-that which, by species of poiiti-
cal evolution, places the grey-bsards on
one side and the downy-chins upon the
other. The line there drawn Classics the
ancients as "Colonels," and the young
bloods az Kids" This new nomenclature
is expressive, and conveys very clear idea
of the personnel of the respective ranks.
The "Colonels" embrace the staid and
self-sufhcient members of the party, whose
claims to preferment and power are those
of the traditional order, and such as
veterans supposed to be surcharged
with wisdom use to advance cause These
men point to the days of the past in
which defeat tried their fidelity, and ad
versity testified their unselfish devotion to
the old-time principles of the party. On
these stones say they, has the party been
erected and by them preserved, therefore
let reverence be done to them. The an
tagonistic elements, designated as the
"Kid" clan, rejoices in its progressive
spirit, which has less respect for traditions
than for present successes. The ancients to
them typify some decades of failure and
mold. They look upon the " Colonel" az
having passed that degree in the order Of
Democracy to which rewards attach. They
hold that such vitality as the party pos
sesSes is due to infusion of the new blood
drawn from the veins of the Kids" to
whom not only control should be given,
but the spoils also. A similar division,
somewhat less marked, exists in the Re
publican party aIao, but does ,,ot develop
the same degree of antagonism, for the
"Kids,"i in this instance, cannot charge
upon the "Colonels" inaction or great
failures, On the contrary, the Re
publican "Kids" have occupied the
position of petitioners fortified by the half
threat that resides in strength. Defeat
kept the Colonies and Kids Of the Democ
racy at comparative peace, and victory
has set them at swords points; but in the
Republican ranks discontinue is likely to
make the kids aggressive. Out of this,
however, nothing but good can come, since
it encourages the hope that q greater exer-
ton than ever before made will be put
forth for Republican ascendsncy, and that
it will cultivate in the party the virtue of
introspection. With the Democracy,
however, it is quite different case,
and the prospect is that the Kid and
Colonel elements will draw widely apart
and fall to such quarreling as to give en-
enlargement to their political enemies.
The St. Louis Globe Democrat declares that
with rare exceptions the old Democratic
leaders did not exert themselves for Mr..
Cleveland, indeed were against his nom
nation, and "sulked and groaned and wore
a continual aspect of sickness" 1t insists
that the Colonel variety of Democrats man
ifested no enthusiasm, and the help they
gave him was confined to voting for him.
"They did not dream that he would
be elected; ,uey did not believe
that his candidacy was logical or prudent.
He was not their kind Of man,
and it is safe TO say, we think, that up to
the closing of the polls on election day they
had not ceased 10 lament the fact that he
was at the head of the ticket instead of one
Of the old SCARED and grizzled veterans"
The old war-horse stripe Of Democrats
have no love for the Independents, who
helped elect the new President, and do not
hesitate to bcmoan the necessity that com
PEELED the party to accept their services,
On the other hand the Kid element, which
worked hard to win a victory, was glad Of
assistance from any quarter, and did not
hesitate 70 disseminate the doctrine that
the Democracy no longer stands for things
Of the past The President-elect has before
him the task of satisfying both these ele-
ments and preventing them from flying at
each others throats The general belief is
that his sympathies lean strongly toward
the Kids"