Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-04-14
DEMOCRATIC HARMONY.

DEMOCRATIC HARMONY.
70 Special dispatches from Washington to
a number of Eastern Democratic papers
report most commendable desire upon
the part of President Cleveland for the
restoration OF such harmony in the Dem
ocratic party as will insure its success at
the approaching elections and especially
in retaining its present supremacy in
the Lower House of Congress. 1t is
said that Mr.. Cleveland expresses his will
lingness to take any step, consistent with
his principles, to accomplish this result
Recent municipal elections in the East
indicate such lack OF harmony in the
party as to inspire fears that the breach,
unless previously closed, will result
seriously if not disastrously to the Con-
gressional elections this fall The OPP
timists in the party, perhaps correctly,
regard these little defeats as fortunate, as
tending to show the party where its weak
ness is, and consequently furnishing a
clue to the means of correcting it. The
Washington Star, in referring to the situ-
alton says:
Members on both sides of the Houses are
discussing the political situation very seri-
Ously. The Democrats, almost to a man,
when speaking confdentially, express fear
that they will lose the House by the next
elections. The conservative men are not
blaming it upon the Administration, but are
inclined to treat it as beyond the Presidents
nj troll .nx,iy,., hat IA
Is brought about by combination of cir
cumstances. The men who take this view
of affairs are, of course, not the spoils-
men of the party, who blame it all
on the civil service reform policy. They are
men who look deeper into the questions To
a great extent they look upon the bad condi-
tion of the party as natural result to fol-
low immediately upon the heels of victory
which involves so much responsibility as the
control of the National Government when
there must of necessity be many conflicting
views as to how the newly--acquired power
should be exercised. They lay the RESPONSE
bility for the existing state of things
upon the want of harmony in the party
outside of the White House as much
as upon the disappointment over the
that both the party and their President are
IN the wrong. inasmuch rs neither iswilling
to yield anything to the other. They hold
that there must be mutual concessions, and
the party leaders must bring themselves to
understand that Mr.. Cleveland has the party
interests at heart rs much as they have,
differing only as to the best plan of guard
ing them, and the President must learn to
look upon the party leaders in the same way
They say that it is time to stop sulking and
to begin some action.
While a variety OF reasons are given in
the above as relating to the causes, the
keynote to the remedy is struck in the
last nine or ten lines. 1t is but natural
that great diversity OF opinion should
exist upon administrative details in
party suddenly brought into power after
retirement OF nearly quarter OF CEN
tury. While the Democracy has held
to general line of principles, as
enunciated in their National and
State platforms during that time,
numerous questions have arisen
since its accession to power, which
had been discussed in the Councils OF
the party, and which are now the prin-
cipal sources OF dissension. There is no
issue OF such magnitude at present pend
ing as marked the advent of Republican
National power, which will serve to con-
solidate the Democratic party and de-
tract its attention from minor matters,
which constitute the present disturb
ing causes. Conciliatory spirit and
mutual concessions are needed to restore
or create such harmony as should exist
in the party holding the reins of Govern
ment. There are no issues dividing the
Democratic party OF sufficient importance
to justify any marked division in its ranks,
and certainly none that cannot be recon-
ciled without abandonment OF party prin-
ciple on either side. The President, as
the head OF the party, should receive such
consideration rs is due to his exalted
position, and he in his turn should
not be above availing himself of the ad-
vice OF men who had been for gears, be-
fore he had any national prominence,
recognized leaders OF the organization TO
which he owes his present place, at the
head ol the greatest nation on the
face OF the earth. 1t is gratifying to
learn that he is exhibiting such con-
ciliatory disposition, and it is most de-
voutly to be hoped that the same spirit
may be evinced along the entire Demo
cratic line. 1t would be the acme
OF folly to sacrifice the fruits
OF National victory gained after
so long and tedious struggle, on
account OF a few unimportant issues,
which ought TO be recorciled in fifteen
minutes by tie Committee on Resolu-
tions OF any Democratic State or county
convention in the country.