Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-06-19
THE REpUBI1cAN PARTY TODAY.

An Eastern contemporary series upon |
the occasion Of the assembling of the Cha |
cago Convention to overhaul the record |
and criticise the Republican party for Its
domestic.og internal differences, and points
out as an evidence of weakness thst its
membership divided against itself IN the
face of Presidential campaign Ii draws
the conclusion that there will be inhar-
mony at Chicago and subsequent to the
Convention, because there is such a con-
fict Of opinion rs to the leadership and as
tolocal policies. The political philosopher
who has given study to the forces that
bring men together in party, is never dis
turbed by domestic quarrels that do not
go to the principles upon which the party
is based.
1t is one of the very best evidences
of the vigor AID cohesive power of the
Republican party that it can confess with
out shame thai in all the States where it
has been dominant, it has had more or less
of internal friction. 1t is perfectly nat
ural that this should be the constitution
of the party renders it unavoidable, be-
cause it is born Of the highest form of the
spirit of independence. Ii stands for indi-
viduality, for tolerance IN its broadest
phases, and for freedom Of political thought
and action characteristic Of no other po-
litical organization. 1t is only in party
xx-ha FOL &c
that the whip and spur Of arbitrary domi-
nation excites quick revolts.
individuality and independence are the
characteristics of every devoted Republi-
can; political servility and cowardly alb
negation have no part in his practice He
is a Republican because, above all things
else, he values liberty of thought, express
sion and action inside and outside of party
lines. 1t is this high spirit of independ-
ence and tolerance that has given the
party its progressive and exalted charac-
ter, and that makes it always and at all
times aggressive for principle. Such
party never can be, and command respect,
a party of mere opposition, and obstruc-
ton always must be foreign to it. 1t is
only in such a party that introspection
and self-purifcation can be practiced, as
has been done more than once by the
Republican party Until sensibility to its
ills is supplanted by indifference there
will be no loss of cohesive power in the
organization.
1t is in bad taste for cur Democratic
friends to speak of disafection in the face
of past Presidential campaign as an evil
dence Of lack of cohesive power The
Republican party does not bear upon the
pages of its history any record of open di-
vision and organized warfare upon itself,
under distinct leaderships such as has
more than once been eventful in the
life of Its great opponent. Whenever
such division is attempted and sue
ceeds, the organization will cease to live
and pass beyond the possibility of politi-
cal resurrection, because it is not party
of mere tradition. II looks down no line
of succession for its right to life Its title
to existence springs out of the enurciation
of and adhesion to vital principles in
separable from the existence of a true re-
public
Unlike the Democratic party it is not
hidebound in organization; it is strong
because it is free and self-corrective. That
party always will command the largest fol-
lowing of intelligent and progressive
humanity that is capable of comprehend
ing its own errors and applying remedies
for their correction. This has been the
experience of the Republican party from
the hour of its institution. 1t is to-day as
compact, rounded and complete political
organization as at any time in its history.
Its membership may differ here and there
as to the economy, wisdom and honesty of
the management of its affairs, and as
they have done, join issue thereon, but
the party never was ard never can be
one of factions, nor will il ever present to
the world, as has the Democracy, the
spectacle of two or more bodies each claim
ing to be the only true exponent of the
party principles. In the coming campaign
Its old-time enemy will find the unity of
the Republican party undisturbed, and
that it is more potential for the good of
the country and for i'll to the Democracy
than when these two last crossed lances in