The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-11-14
Party DisCipline.

Tie Gainesville Noes urges unity IN
the ranks Of the Democratic party, and
It's advice has been often repeated by
cur cotempo raries throughout the State.
This was well, but when the same au-
thority declares that scratching must
be known no more, ;" then we must beg
leave to enter protest. To our mind the
scratcher in politics is a most useful fac
tor. We think the independent voter who
is uncontrolled by personal considera-
tons becomes q most desirable check on
a machine which is apt to escape at
times from the control of the govern
ment, holding its action within bounds,
and is then dangerous to friend as well
as foe. To our mind the scratcher, who
uses thought instead of blind faith, as
the guide of his action, is TO be com-
mended, not blamed, and the voter who
is really Independent may be our only
anchor of safety when the heaviest
storm strikes us. But for them Blaine
would now be President.
But the ''scratcher" who claims TO be
partisan when it suits his purpose, is a
Pharisee avowing his hypocrisy. The
''independenl" who uses the name TO
conceal party treachery or political self
seeking, Is unworthy of "A follower. To
vote as he chooses is an inalienable priv
/ ilege of the American citizen, but he
who voluntarily becomes member Of
party must abide by its laws and dsci-
siOns or sever his connection therefrom.
The man who goes into u convention
gives pledge, understood of all men,
and his reason must indeed be strong
and his cause good, TO excuse subse-
quent scratching" or independence"
so-Called. But for this check, instituted
and upheld by public opinion, parties
could not exist, and concert OF action
would be impossible: government would
degenerate into anarchy, and popular
election into farce.
Parties cannot eXis; without party dis
cipline. Those who call themselves
Democrats must abide by the decisions
OF the party or drop all claim to the
name. With us the primary is the foun-
dation upon which all official action of
the party rests. In the primaries il is
really decided who shall be the nomi-
nees if subsequent action is fair and
aboveboard. But we cannot depend on
the ticket when enemies have been suf-
fered to dominate the primaries, and we
cannot enforce party discipline unless we
give uudisputed effect TO the Will of the
people "a expressed in the primaries We
nave seen those who had never voted
Democratic ticket control the action of
Democratic rrimary-we have seen
members Of a convention opposing its
nominees.
Florida isEow Enthusiastically Democrat
&c. but if we would not see the party itself
split up into opposing factions its leaders
must give effect to the popular WILL and
party discipline must be enforced. Out
side of the party the Independent is often
a most valuable citizen. and sometimes
is of great service 10 the Democracy.
Within its ranks he is perpt tual menace
TO good government and is foe TO allilaw
ami order. We mean no Uffense when /
we say that as soon rs he becomes "inde
r.
a Democrat, and justice 10 himself as
we'll as To his associates requires his with
drawai or dismissal. Good faith requires
such action as it does tile absence of a
"Universalist" from an ORTHODOX" pu!-
pit. From independents and scratch /
ers' We may honorably receive aid when I
they can conscientiously give It-with /
them we cannot be bound in the chains
of party discipline. With them we shall
soon be confronted 10y the strength of a
power within ourselves impCriHm IN /
iHtpcrjo-whch is always fatal to all eff
fectual organization. An independent" /
or 'scratcher" has no place within the /
ranks Of party, and a convention of in /.
dependents becomes Immediately col
lection of Mugwumps. With the disap>
pearance of the negro vote in Florida,
Democrats have lost a strong bond Of CO.
hesion: undisputed power we shall find
entails scverer trials than the hitterest
defeat.
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