The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-01
Party DISCIPLINE.
Some Well Stated nnd Sensible Sugges-
lions Applicable 10 Other LOe sIities Ihan
That for Which They Were Made.

tiOns Applicable 10 Other Loe aIities Ihnn
That for Which They Were Made.
The following article appeared as commup-
ication in the Brooklyn, N. Y. Times. The
signature will be recognized by many as that
of gentleman lawyer in Brooklyn and whose
influence in public affairs is rapidlyigrowing.
The conviction that in considering the now
paramount question of party discipline some
phases OF the subject have escaped attention,
leads me to venture o few suggestions.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis took the occasion of his
retirement from the United States Senate in
January, 1861, to point out the difference be-
tween nullihcations sand secession, "Nnlifica-
tion' said he, "is a remedy which iii sought TO
apply within the Union"
Ii will be observed that Mr.. George Wm.
Curtis and his followers in their relation to
Repubhcanism, have adopted the methods OF
Calhoun, rather than OF Davis. They are nut
lihers rather than seceders. They have openly
preached and practiced the doctriae that it Ia
compatible with honor TO remain 10 the end 10
g party convention, and thereafter not only
repudiste its candidates but work for those Of
its opponent
The same ode was inculcated some years ago
in Massachusetts by the Rev. James Freeman
Clarke, this year conspicuous in his support OF
Governor Cleveland. 1t is tolerably clear to
any one not endowed with that remarkable
faculty, the Independent conscience, that this
uOCtriuo Is JOI1liy SuDV5rSlV6 OF party action,
Nothing but party fealty holds the electors
chosen in November, to the obligation Of vot-
ing for the nominee Of the convention.
Ii Mr.. Curtis theory be sound, tho members
oi the Electoral College eau set up their per-
sonal judgment and on conscientious grounds
completely thwart the expressed win of the
people. To those who look beneath the sar-
face OF popular government, the course OF MIR.
Curtin must appear essentially nihilistie. It
is fortunate thing that part of our Eueish
inheritance is the habit of dividing into two
great parties A philosophic writer in the
Kev1e des Deux Mondes, attributes to this
the Stability which parliamentary government
has attained in Ang to-Saxon communities, and
contrasts it with the situation ia France,
where, under the new Republic, there has
been change of ministry on an average as
often as once every nine months. The inabil.
tY or unwillingnes5 there TO surrender or limit
individual opinions makes it impossible 10
form cabinet that will hold together for any
length of time On defined national policy.
Every legislative assembly ranges itself into
right and left centres aud extremes, as we'll as
into legitimateS, Bonapartists and Orleanists.
A government constituted from such elements
is but house of cords. A ruler seeking sup
port from such factions is like a man on a raft
OF loose logs, no one of which is large enough
to float him. He Keeps mp Only by perpetual
ly jumping from one to another, and is tolera-
bly, sure to fan through eventually.
Mr.. Curtis and his friends have not limited
Suo dppliCdblOu Ol lu6iF JubOry 10 LQ6 OpDOSl-
tion to Mr. Blaine. One of the many choice
virtues attributed by them to Governor Cieve-
land is his ability to resist "party dietaton,"
by which is meant disposition TO assert his
individual judgment against the will of his
party. An apotheois of the doctrine ap-
pears in a recent number of Harper's Week
ly, where Governor Cleveland is represent
ed as Hercules ready to club the Democratic
tiger.
Now, much as the triumph OF the Democrat
in NorfTr fo a. ha DIR Att
didate to its purposes, will be less disastrous to
the general good than the assertion of indivi-
dual will so strenuously urged and COM
mended by this new school of nullifers. Their
course is the most direct road to Csssarism.
But while those considerations, il sound, in.
volve severe condemnation of those who have
betrayed positions OF party trust, they also in
culcate spirit of very wide toleration for
those who compose the rank and file. There
Is in their case no analogy to cases of desertion
in armies.
There must and will be a shifting back and
forth of masses of voters as questions and
measures change. This is the very life of
popular government. And it is impossible to
limit to TWO the national parties, unless there
be within tbs ranks of both opportunity and
freedom for wide differences of opinion. And
the party which is most tolerant of differences
VIII be the most progressive. The Republican
party, by its platform of 1856, invited co-opera-
tlon OF discordant elements for the paramount
PUApVs0 VI OuSCAiuR Juo REOWbu OF tOo slave
power. lt must continue to invite like CO.
operation, II it would successfully thwart the
retrogresslon involved in the recent defeat OF
Mr.. Blaine. In the general committees and
conventions, nulliiers must bs punished. The
most effective penalty will be the strong con-
demnation OF an enlightened public opinion.
But 1t Is a dangerous step to extend the disci-
piun5 to members OF town and, ward org aniza-
tions. In nine cases out of ten such member
snip is valued only for the right Of participate
ing "a ths primaries. The ordinary meetings
Oh the associations are attended by very
small faction Of those who are on the roll
Few OF the members attend the primaries
except on occ4sions of xceptional interest
But the fact that they have the privilege OF
participation tends to secure their support for
the nominee. ani an extended membership is
in itself check upon unwise action BY the
controlling minority of active workers. The
disposition latterly shown to exact pledges, aud
to investigate the conduct Of mere mem bers
will drive out hundreds of men. The organiza-
tlon will gain in harmony, but the party will
lose in power. - 26
This process Of elimination was begun wears
ago IN Neg York city, and carried SO far that
the party nominations there made in the AS
sembly District Associations, have become
wholly Intellectual to secure votes. Hence has
come multitude of conflicting cliques, citi-
zens committees, and young men clubs. This
kind OF chaos is precisely that from which
trading political bosses most profit. The dlspo-
eibOn " oApol Tue I6CdlClJfA0tS Is ike tEat
which expels from political meetings those
who dissent from the opinions expressed by the
speakers. This has made stump oratory a
waste OF words. Let us recur within the party
10 the methods of the Illinois campaign be-
tween Lincoln and Douglass. The way to
promote the cause OF MIR. Blaine is not by call
ing names and cracking party whips, but by
making more clearly Known aud appreciated
his services for good.
One effective method of accomplishing this
is by retaining as many men as possible in
nominal allegiance to the party. II the zeal
now shown in Furnishing Independents had
been shown before the election sin convincing
them OF their error, there would have been
none left to be punished. 1t should sbe borne
in mind that 1t Mr.. Blaine is the man that
many Independents have been induced to be-
lieve him to be, he did not deserve their
votes. Those of us who have most cordially
and earnestly supported him, have done so
not only because he was the fairly nominated
candidate, but because we did not aud do not
believe the charges made against him.
JAMES MCKEEN.