Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-23
DRIFTING AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE.

1t is possible that our Democratic
friends better understand the domestic pol
icy of their party than any outsiders
They may be better qualified to determine
what wisdom shall apply to their affairs,
and what be discarded. But there are
general political principles applying to the
administration of party affairs so far as
they relate to government, that have no
partisan character whatever. The Demo
cratic County Committee of this county
has violated the chief of these. In whose
interest, what for, or for what purpose we
do not know, and do not care, for however
good the purpose, or however i'll, cuts no
figure in the case, and in no wise justifes
the ends employed. That transpired in
the committee on Saturday which, in the
case of FL Dorado county, raised the wrath
Of our contemporary, the San Francisco
Alta, to the boiling point-the committee
appointed delegates to the Democratic
State Convention, a minority protesting
and threatening to rebel. The interest in
the matter is that of general public con-
Germ, for so far as the domestic policy Of
the Democracy is concerned we do not
care what means the managers employ to
cut the party throat, but when any activity
points either the decadence or advance of
political thought and method, it is of pub
lie concern. The safety of the republic
resides in the policy that keeps the Gov
eminent closest to the people. Just in
proportion as it is removed from them,
Justin that aegrcezare their liberties as
sailed That in political parties as well as
in governmental affairs, the representa-
tives of the people are best chosen by the
people is truism. When the Democratic
committee violated the pledge of the party
organization to the members Of the party,
when it seized upon authority, it
invaded sacred American principle and
trampled IN the dust Of political chicane
an essential element of free government.
The right of the people TO choose these
who are to voice their wishes is an inalien
able one. They may submit to its sup
preston now and then, simply because
they dread revolutions, but not for long is
forbearance virtue with Americans. They
are as bitter and cruel in their revenges as
they are forbearing and patient under
wrong. We repeat, it is no concern of ours,
but the right to express an opinion re-
mains, and we do not hesitate to say that
inasmueh as the Democratic Central Com
mittee of this county is one of the oogs of
,nar!y machinery and as party relates to
government directly, and its acts are
quasi-governmental- it may put
into authority, and formulate theory into
law-the action of the committee was fool
hardy, un-American, bossive, and in what
ever light viewed, unwise and dangerous.
II party committees may trench upon the
liberties of citizens in party unrebuked, so
may unrepresentative conventions trespass
on individual right; 50 may the Conven-
ton, when it transforms itself into legls-
lature and bulldozes, chokes and cows the
Courts; so may the boss of the Legislature,
and so may every part of the ma
chinery of government cut loose from its
legitimate motive power, and political des
potisra within party rise at last to the
hight Of It's ambition and the boss become
what he apes to be already-dictator, king
and absolute monarch. 1t is time for the
people to put foot upon the neck of this
rising power and choke the infamy wher-
ever it attempts to get foothold, for out
of so little pot of trouble as the political
committee of so insignificant section of
the whole country as Sacramento county
may escape the virus to poison the body
polite.