Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-07
TROUBLE IN THE OPPOSITE CAMP

We have no idea that the Democracy
will be advised by any words from jour
mails that are not attached to its kind of
politics. Nevertheless there is going on
Just now ferment in the Democratic
party that is making history, and indie
pendent journalism cannot ignore it. On
the one side we have the San Francisco
Erdminer, in Mondays issue, in a double
loaded editorial imploring the Democracy
to adhere to the Stockton Convention
crusade and not abandon the leaders of
that movement in the hour of distress. 1t
does not threaten-the hour for that has
gone by. 1t beseeches, impIores, and by
all ancient tokens of the party appeals to
the members of the organization not to
abandon it.
On the other hand we have the Alta
California, of the same day, in a dignifed
and well-considered article, warning the
Democracy of the folly of pinning
its faith to George fiearSt's coat skirts ;
urging peace, conservatism, burial of past
issues, union of effort for the best interests
of the State and the party. Here are the
two leaders-the one insisting that its
wing of the party has not been soundly
padded by the people, and the other just
as positively asserting the contrary. But
the 4ita backs its statement by the logic of
facts and points to the reversal of the Dem
ocratic majority at the late election as
unanswerable
The Sacramento Democratic Central
Committee comes to the aid Of the Alta on
the same day, when the latter and the En-
oainer appeal to their partisans, and ex-
presses is conviction that the ruling body
OF the organization is making an ass of it
self and is deliberately and viciously
wreclins the party The Grass Valley
Union, the Democracy of which is not to
be questioned, and which has never been
welded to faction Of any kind, and is
representative Of very conservative
body of high altitude mountain Dem
ocrats, declares with cool forcibleuess
that Is convincing:
It is unfortunate that the result of the Novcm-
Der election has not brought with it a lesson
that should have prompted and encouraged
every Democrat who looks to the future integrity
and qualification of the party i'll California to
remove rs far rs possible any cause Of disScn-
sion. The late election brought serious defeat
TO he California DemOcracy-the grand ma
rif of n hoi tn "a mi
nority of over 1900. This would not have been
had the party avoided an issue between its own
members in dealing with the railroad question.
The party was unanimous i'll favor of compel
ling the railroads 10 pay their taxes, but large
element desired TO 20 further, and hamper the
operation of the railroads by uufriendly leeiSa-
ton. The Inter insisted upon making this the
policy o. the party. and this was the principal
cause OF the trouble, rs the support of extreme
auti-rHroad measures was attempted to be
made the test of party fealty. The stockton
Convention attempted TO commit the party 10
what the extra session COuld not accomplish
and an important Presidential campaign was
thus attempted to be conducted upon a local
issue upol which the party was not harmoni-
Gus. II was palp9ble and mischievous error,
which the cooEheadeQ men of the party those
who had stood by its fortunes through victory
and defeat could easily see but their protests
tio2s and advice was not received. Those 10
whose hand was committed the management OF
the party would make no concession from their
impelious demands. and appeared 20 think they
could win victory and az the same time Stille the
voice and convictions of their own partisarrs
The resolution offered in the State Committee
was movement in the right direction and its
adoption would have met the approval of all
Democrats who are such rom principle. and not
the mere creatures of faction who viii rule or
ruin II the State Committee win do nothing to
aid n restoration OF harmony, but is determined
to apply the lash in the same spirit that has
characterized its previous action, then is the
future of the party in the State very unpromis-