Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-25
THE RIGHTFUL OFFICE OF A PARTISAN
NEWSPAPER.

For now these many years 1t has been
apparent that the old hack party organ,
viz, a newspaper that attempts to serve
its party through thick and thin, has
survived its usefulness. Few intelligent
people nowadays would care to subscribe
to such a journal, or to permit it to
enter their houses.
There was probably, in the earlier and
Runic days of the republic, an Office
which such a Journal might have sub
served in convenient household func-
ton, but the delicacies of private con-
venience have been so advanced since
then that this excuse for slavish party
organ has been not only vastly dimin-
lished but absolutely abrogated.
The true functions of partisan jour-
nal are numerous and noble. First
amongst these is the aim to keep the party
which it represents up to the noblest
aims of the organization. The history
of all parties shows constant tendency,
with success, to pass into the control of
its worse elements. As general thing,
especially in American politics, parties
can only be kept up to their high
standard of principle by ceaseless vigil
ance. The temptation to win by any
expedient is the great danger which lies
ahead for even meritorious parties. AS
a case in point we may instance the
nomination of Horace Greeley for
president in 1872 by the Dem
Ocratic party. 1t was this
Horace Greeley who wrote, "All Demo-
Gratis are not horse thieves, but all horse
thieves are Democrats" Aparty which
could put such man at the head of it's
ticket deserved the tremendous beating
which the Democratic party got in 1872.
A man and party are often beaten out
of all semblance and correspondence to
their natural features, and they may
still receive sympathy. Nobody sympa-
thized with Democrats in contest in
which Horace Greeley was the defeated
Democratic candidate. And the general
sentiment was that sympathy would
have been wasted under such circum-
stances.
The next important Office of partisan
journal is to see that it's best men are
put forward. In this connection ques-
tion arises as to whether or no partisan
journal should support a notoriously
unfit person for Office. The old
free and easy organ doctrine was
that even a 'syaller' dog should
be supported if nominated. We
do not take any stock in any such
doctrine. The natural result of allowing
any political organization to pass into
low and groveling control is the putting
forward of incompetent and unworthy
men, who ought to be beaten out of
their boots. OF course, no sensible
Democratic journal would accept the
Republican estimate of any Demo-
cratic aspirant. He should be Judged
by the opinions of his reputable party
associates and by those of impartial
men Of all parties, and by this general
concensus he ought to stand or fall. If
any party should dare to put forward a
man who failed to come up to an honest,
square standard of public opinion, it
ought to be beaten; and, in the present
temper of the popular mind, it would be.
The Democratic party, thank God, has
heritage Of freedom. Democrats have
been noted in all stages of the partys
history for their fearless and honest
expression of opinion. The United
States is today overwhelmingly Demo-
cratic. California is good Democratic
fighting ground. Success here is assured
if the popular preferences are respected.
Let US, therefore, iaim to embody the
will of the people and adhere to old and
venerated Democratic traditions. That
Democratic journal is real Democratic
organ that stands up for the right of the
majority of the people to have their will
respected.