The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-03-07
HOW TO RESTORE DISCIPLINE.


The assertiveness of the individual
In politics, and the assumption that
the views of certain individuals are the
views of all the members Of the party
or must be made such--the attempt
of prominent leaders to set up the
standard to which all the other fellows
must conform is what is filing the
country with confusion and bringing
upon the system of government by
party etrain that It seems hardly
able to bear Government by party,
the very existence Of parties them
selves, rests upon foundation of mu-
tual compromises 1t Is the rarest
thing In the world to find two indi-
viduals who think exactly alike on all
public questions. 1t is impossible to
find enough such to constitute party.
Parties are made up Of aggregations
of individuals who hold the same opin-
ion concerning very large and general
questions; the abolition of slavery, the
benefits of the protective policy, and
others of the kind. AS to details and
as to methods, these individuals differ
widely. They get together, compare
ideas, arrive at an agreement that is
tolerable to all, by the sacrifice Of
something of his personal PROPOSES
sions on the part of each. Then the
whole Is a political party, ready to
move with the solidity and harmony
Of an army. Without such an agree,
ment, 1t can be nothing but loose
assemblage of free companies" each
fighting for itself, and the whole ready
TO disband at any moment on some
issue far from vital.
Toward this dlsorganized condition
both parties have been tending. It is
time to arrest the movement. The
Democrats have already got beyond
saving And 1t is precisely this throw
ing off Of discipline that has wrecked
them. There is no Democrat of any
prominence who acknowledges an OBJ.
legation to do other than as he pleases.
1t has been each man for himself even
since the party came into power until
such a thing as q fixed party policy IL
unknown and q party vote on any
question is u rarity. Whether It be the
tariff question or the financial question
or any other, Cleveland and German
and Hill and Voorhees, and Wilson are
and Mills are all at odds. No one of
them admits any obligation resting
on him on account of the opinions
Of any other Discipline is dead, and
every man depends upon his own mi
tiatlve. OF course in this condition of
things, party becomes mob, and
goes down before the well-directed on
set OF a united foe.
The Republican party has escaped
this costly mistake, and It must not
fan into It, There are tendencies MAX
ing in that direction, because q sign of
the times is the impatience which all
men are showing under control, OF the
hard laws Of nature, Of the direction
of older and cooler heads, Of the neces-
sary obligations of leadership. Every
man feels that ne is competent to d.
rect party's councils; and few Of
them are modest about trying It. Tho
demand Of the day is for restoration
Of party discipline. Grave issues con-
front Republicans as well as Demo-
Gratis. II they are not met In the only
way that party government provides
for meeting them. by close organiza-
ton. g policy formulated after discus
sion ana common agreement, and an
ahae esneraiship. then division win en-
ter these ranks too. Better an organ
ized force which does not exactly sat
isfy anybody than loose concOurse Of
snd'Vituaas. earh ot whorn is COckAnre
that hc Is right. but All Of whom to-
gether are insnicient through their in-
capacIty for concerted action. A.