The record-union., 1892-08-15
PEOPLES PARTY STRENGTH.

calculating the withdrawal of strength
from the old parties that will be due to
the campaigning of the Peoples party.
A very conservative estimate of the re-
suit, based on carefully ascertained views
| IN the several counties of practical OBJ
servers, gives as a conclusion the judg-
ment that the loss to a recent date was
about equally divided between the Re-
| publicans and Democrats. In the strong
Democratic counties the admission was
made that the Peoples party was deriv-
ing its main support from voters who
had acted with the dominant party in
those counties. In pronounced Repub-
iIcan counties the requisition of the
Peoples party was mainly upon Repub
lian strength. That is to say, it would
seem that minorities have greater CO.
hesive strength than majorities in the
several counties of California.
This Judgment does not rest upon the
assumption that the larger body affords
broader field for an opposition from
which to proselyte, but upon ascertained
fact. as stated, that in the dominant party
IN county are found more of those who
represent the independent spirit, and
those who least acknowledge party obi
cations, whereas minorities stand for the
stricter devotees of party, and those
whose fealty withstands trials and re-
verses. On the whole, therefore, the
Democracy was not likely to lose to the
Peoples party more than was the Repub-
lican party.
But the Democracy proved its title to
the application Of the epigram that it can
always be trusted to do the wrong thing
at the right time. Thinking to placate
and win to itself some Of the strength of
the new organization, it declared at
Fresno that it was the anti-railroad party
par excellence; that when it came to de-
nunciation of railways and railway in
dustrial enterprise it could discount the
Peoples party and give it something in
the bargain.
But this owlish policy is having pre-
cisely the opposite effect from that in
| tended; it is sending more Democrats
than would have lgone over to the Wea-
verites, since, they say, naturally, if our
old party has thus late discovered the vir-
tues supposed to reside in anti1railroad
politics, we had better by far go with the
no hot fh11c IND IL
second to it. The case would be paralleled
if either of the old parties had adopted
the essential principle upon which the
Prohibition party has created a senti-
ment, and had announced it as sound and
politically wise. The effect of such in
dorsement, as the commonest intelligence
will perceive, would be to augment rather
than decrease Prohibition party strength
| 1t would release to it voters held to old
affiliations by tradition and reminiscent
! bonds only.
All the bids for voters to desert new
party which they have had the courage to
erect, have invariably resulted in aces
sions to their ranks from the body of the
organization seeking to placate the new
sentiment. Hence, the Democracy is now
| losing and will steadily suffer the greater
| loss of strength to the Peoples party.
| This accounts for the entreaty of the San
! Francisco Examiner that Democrats do
not desert the ranks, and that there is no
need to do so, since their own organiza-
! ton proposes the loud-sounding things
of railroads and monopolies.
The Republican party will, for reasons
equally clear, lose less to the Peoples
party, and preserve its ranks in better
alignment, for it did not in national
campaign seek to win the favor of the
| Peoples party or Prohibition party, or
any other party strength. 1t declared it
self upon fundamental principles, pro-
nounced itself equal to all emergencies,
and took the broad high ground of fair
ness and justice to all, and to administra-
ton of public affairs for the highest and
best good of the whole country. 1t will
lose fewer men to the Peoples party as
the campaign progresses, because it has
not crawled upon its belly, and will not
be reduced as the Democracy has been al
ready through its chief exponent in Cali
| fornia, TO beseeching it's file not to desert
it for new gods. 1t has not run after a
fad, and is not and will not be placed in
the humiliating position of pleading with
! its own not to abandon it.
1
Mrs. Logan's "Hone Magazinen and
the 'Week1y Union"
Both only 81 rs per year. The Home
Magazine of Washington, D. c., con-
/ Quoted by Mrs. John A. Logan, is the
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