Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-21
LOOK OUT FOR THE INDEPENDENT VOTE.

No doubt there is a growing tendency
at work like the leaven that effects the
whole mass leading towards more indie
pendence than of yore in politics. The
lack of distinctive difference between the
parties will always result in this form of
politics. For some time past there has
been little excepting the tariff for the
two great parties to keep up the fight
on, and that is not so clearly defined as
it might be. There are protective DEM
ocrats like the late Samuel Randall,
of Pennsylvania, who stand by
the principles of Thomas Jeffer-
son, and there are free-trade Re-
ON this point rather than with Henry
Clay, the great Whig prototype of the
present generation of Republicans. A
large number of the Republican papers
of the west are more nearly free traders
than their Democratic contemporaries.
This is no sign that there are not pro-
found and vital distinctions between Re-
publicanism and Democracy; but these
fundamental principles are not involved
in the politics of today. The campaigns
are conducted too much on side issues,
or points not essentially Republican or
Democratic.
Whenever the Republican partycomes
to the front with an issue with real
merit in it, all the crank organizations
usually flung off from that organization
in piping times OF peace, rally
back to the party standard
and vote to a man the straight ticket.
There are no Prohibitionists or other
one-idea parties under these circum-
stances. So with our own party the
side issues all 60 down before some
vital portion OF the party creed.
At the coming campaign there will be
no end OF these side shows split off from
the two main branches of the circus.
The Prohibitionists are out in force with
strong man for the head of their ticket.
The Knownothings or American party
will be in the field with some following,
and the Nationalists, while they will
put no ticket in the field will be there as
free lances to do execution on both par
ties according to their bent.
With all these sporadic political ele-
ments, it will be very largely question
of men. The campaign will be to a
great degree Question of who will serve
the people best, and there will be more
scratching done than in years before.
This will be particularly the case in
county and city elections. There are an
enormous number of voters who will
not take part in the caucus fights, nor
take the trouble to vote at the primaries,
but who console themselves with the
reflection that if bad men are put up for
Office they need not vote for such. They
will take all the tickets and make up
composite one as best they may.
From political point of view this
may be a lamentable state of affairs
From the point of view of a statesman
it may not be the best way to have
things. But from a practical point of
to ignore facts. Both parties will see it
in the fall elections in this state. The
Independents will be out in force, an d
will refuse to be bound by any party
ties to vote for bad men.
There is very important point to
those reflections. The indications are
that the Republican party will be con-
trolled by anything except the best ele
ments of the organization when the con-
ventions meet. In this co unity and CITY
the ring is king and will rule or ruin.
The lesson to us is to see to it that onl y
good men get places on the ticket. If
we see to this the floating vote will
come to us, and we shall win. 1t is
merely question of the survival of the
fittest. These circumstances are very
potent, too, in the situation in the state.
The peculiar condition of affairs is not
confined to Los Angeles. Put good men
on guard if you want to win.