Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-26
DAILY RECORD UNION
DUTY TO THE PARTY.

II party is worth adhering to, it is worth
working for; worthy the sacrifice of some
TIME, some pleasure; worth good deal Of
personal Inconvenience Men have no
sort OF right to belong to party and ex-
pect good fruit of it, and not be willing to
do work in it. We are about to hold an
election in Sacramento to choose portion
OF the city officers. The Republican party
has through its agency ordered primary
election, in order to ascertain whom the
party membership desires shall assemble
and place party candidates in nomination.
But long-observed custom has provided a
caucus, preliminary to the primary, to de-
termine who shall be nominated for dele
gates to choose the nominees for office. Of
course, the caucus does not bind the party
man who does not take part in it and who
is dissatisfied with its selection, ard he NAV
in honor go TO the primary polls and vote
for whom he pleases. And, as a matter of
fact, of which every man is aware. the
caucus does not hold men to a primary
ticket, where they suspect that they have
been tricked and deprived of free express
sion. But it simplifes matters, avoids
friction, and above all eliminates disturb
ing issues very largely, when all the party
members attend and take part in the eau
Gus, making themselves felt in it. The fair
caucus is the beginning of government, the
beginning of honest politics. With us it
takes the place of the old-time town meet
ing, and it ought still to be as that was.
meeting of free conference, straightfor-
ward consultation and open speech. There
ought to be nothing pre-arranged about it,
no cut anddried plans for filling the caucus
Offices, or for parceling out the nominations
Tor delegates. Its results ought to be the
natural outcome of the interchange of
views, and the voice of the majority fairly
obtained
The caucus fails wholly of its true pur-
pose when it becomes, by neglect of party
membership, merely machine for the use
OF the particular faction that captures /"
1t. Instead of being a committee of con-
ference for the whole party. it is then re-
solved into vulgar agency fo- carrying out
plans concerning which the party members
have not been consulted, or afforded oppor-
tunify TO express themselves.
1t may be too much to hope for, but it j.
possible for the approaching Republican
caucuses to be free. fair and open conspita-
tons as to what is best for the city and the
party. They can be made such agencies for
party and city good, if the Republicans Of
the city will attend them. 1t should not be
necessary to urge Republicans, therefore, to
attend their ward caucuses, and put for
ward for delegates just such men as the
majority of the party in each ward want,
irrespective of the personal ambitions or
political hopes of any men or managers.
The committeeman in calling caucuses
do not address themselves to few mem.
bers of the party, but to all of them. The
call for Thursday nights caucus will 90 out
to every man of Republican faith, not to a
handful The invitation is, as every such
should be- an urgent one, and 1t is un-
limited; let the members of the party
therefore lay aside other matters for an
hour and attend the preliminary party con-
situations popularity know as the caucuses
II Republicans remain at home end let
others operate in their name and for them.
they must expect to be rebuked if the re-
suit Is not the best for the city and the party.
If tley stay away from the meetings, they
put upon others an undue share of duty
doing, and compel them to shoulder an
unjust share of the burden of political OBJ
legation.
Let us, then, have in Sacramento Re-
publican caucuses fully attended, held in
places amply sufficient in area to accommo-
date those who should come; let us have
csucuses such as were originally intended
by their institution. and such open, fearless
and calm elaboration as will insure unity in
the party the expression of and rule by
the majority OF the party. in the party
success at the polls by the party; good city
government under the party administra