The record-union., 1892-02-15
ID1ocY OR HUMoR, wHIcHs

That city government should be di-
vorced from party politics was made en-
phatically manifest in the organization of
National Republican Club in this city
Saturday night, under call issued by
the State Central Committee. Despite the
protests of old-line Republicans reso-
luton was put through requiring all
members to pledge themselves to support
the national, State, county and city nom
nations Of the party.
What mighty matter it is, to be sure.
The coinage, the tariff, the foreign and
the domestic policies of this republic of
sixty-four millions of people in forty
four sovereign States must perforce be
made to hinge and pivot upon the selec-
ton of Constable, for instance, in far
away and comparatively unimportant
town of the Pacific Coast. That is to say,
though one may, upon all lines of ma
tonal policy, upon all matters involving
the essential principles which gave birth
TO and underlie political party, be fnlly
and heartily in accord with it, and
anxious to support the party; though
he may have stood forward in the dark
days when to announce himself an adj
herent of such principles was to invite
reproach and take punishment, he must
now be ruled out of the party clubs and
told that he is unworthy to associate with
the sef-styled unspotted party men, be-
cause. forsooth, he cannot in good con-
science vote for the party nominee for
dog pelter.
Was there ever before such an exhibi-
ton of the desperate strait to which local
party management is driven? 1t must
needs not only crack the party whip, but
lay on the lash in the vain endeavor to
make free men pledge their allegiance
bhndly to whatever party may do. Men
who attempt this thing soberly are pur-
blind or mad. The history of party in
the United States gives no instance vet of
the application of the party goad that an
independent voter did not spring full
hedged from every stroke.
But TO take a charitable view of the
proceeding, let it be assumed that the
men who carried the resolution through
were playing comedy role. If, then,
they were not in earnest who did the
foolish thing Of Saturday night, they were
indulging in a fine bit of humor at the
expense of old-time party friends,
against whom Independent action has
more than once been leveled. For some
OF these gentlemen who now lay on the
lash are of the very order of people who
have refused to take the party bit and
many time have kicked clear of party
'collar and traces. They have had indie
pendence of soul and courage sufficient
to over and over again scratch ticket
and exercise the manhood right to re-
buke party management.
So that, while it is dangerous game to
play, it may be the resolutions were put
through for the humor of the thing, to
give party colleagues taste of nauseous
medicine. For of course the affirmative
do not expect the State Central Commit
tee, under whose call they met, to cut
adrift half the party strength, to reject
the votes and voice of Republicans, for
the sake Of a Constable here, or Town
Council there, or a Chief of Police
yonder, or the triumph of six-by-nine
town bosses. No, the affirmative cannot
expect for single moment that the State
Committee is going to be so idiotic as to
tie up State and National politics fast and
strong with township and ward concerns.
The whole proceeding appears to us to be
In the nature of bowling farce.
But if it is not; if our charitable as
sumption Is not justified; if there are
still men with reason left them who be-
lieve that in this day and age of intelli-
gence and free thought the voting
masses can be lashed into line to the un-
reserved support, in advance, of all that
may be done in the name of party by the
remotest cross roads and village political
bosses and committees-if such men
are given power to shape party policy
and destiny, the one will become suicidal
and the other be reached in utter and
hopeless wreck.