The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-26
ALLEGIANCE TO PARTY.

Adr the American people are bound by
party ties, and to what extent they
ought to give. strict allegiance TO po-
litical parties. To begin with we take
it that there is nothing sacred about
political parties. They are merely ag-
gregations of individuals holding GER
tain general views in common on princi-
pies and policies of government; and
taking it for granted that those views
which individuals hold in common
have their root in honest conviction,
people holding those views in COM
mon will be true to the organization
them. But if that party instituted for
the PRONUNCIATION and maintenance of
certain economic or political princi-
pies, forgetful of the high purpose for
which it was created, becomes an en-
CINE of oppression, or machine in the
hands of ambitious leaders to further
their own personal and selfish ends,
the sooner a party throws off such
leadership the better: and if it can &C
complish that in no other way than by
disruption. then the sooner the dis
ruption comes the better.
What we would be understood as
saying is that political parties are
made for men and not men for p-iiti-
cal parties So long as parties are true
to the purposes for which they were
organized, so long the members COM
posing them will be true to those par
ties-unless their personal convictions
change-when, of course. they would
seek, as they have a perfect right to
60, new associations with party more
perfectly representing their political
faith.
But if there is any one thing above
another that calls for party rebuke, it
is when a political party becomes SO
assured of the fidelity of its members
that it will presume to buy and sell
and barter them away for the advan-
tage of party leaders. And that par
ties do sometimes get in that condi
ton, admits of no denial. That, in
fact, is the condition of the Repub-
lican party in Pennsylvania now. Re
Gently the Public Ledger of Philadel
phia contained a severe arraignment
of the Republican party III that state.
1t quoted a number of mems
of agreement between Mr.. Quay and
a number of Republican bosses that
give evidence of an appalling state of
depravity in the party government, and
one which ought to call down the
merited wrath of Pennsylvania Repub-
licans.
The Ledger publishes number of
such mems, but we have space to con-
slider but enc, which was written by
Mr.. Parker L. Walter. a Pittsburg
journalist. to Senator Quay. The Joe
Brown" mentioned in the following is
no less a person than the director of
public safety of Pittsburg; Mr.. Finn
is a state senator. and Mr.. Magee an
active politician, the three being Re
publican leaders in the anti-Quay
forces of Philadelphia. Following is
the mem:
Dear Senator: Joe Brown sent for
me at noon today and asked me if any
terms could be made with you. l said
nothing but a complete laydown. He
kept me here until now. First he went
over the situation with Finn, then
Finn went to Magee, and this is the
result, and is their formal offer to you,
known only to them, myself and you:
"Magee will retire from national,
state and city politics; Finn will do
the same after the February elections
if you think best. and merely work
along in harmony in the senate. He
will step out of city craftsmanship and
~; a 70
to name all delegates from Allegheny
county to state convention. You are
to name all members of legislature
(house and senate from the county;
you are to name national delegates.
"Larkin or other city nominees lex
cept Guthriet, who is regarded as I'M
safe for you and other side ALSO to be
elected under secret agreement Gour-
ley to be defeated even if nominated.
Finn to call down Martin and Por-
ter and other Philadelphia leaders, if
legislature and national delegates.
ANY man you may name to be sup
ported for senate or president.
In return nothing suggested so far,
except certain lines for investigation
here. All bona fide wrong-doing of
Brown, Finn, Magee or others to be
shown up.
Brown to meet you at my house in
early morning alone. After talk with
him. Finn to come and give such
guarantees as YOU may ask for.
This is outline of matter. They
say Hastings is with you and the
game is up.
This must be arranged, they say,
before the committe meets here, and
must be absolutely a secret.
Wire me early, so 1 can tell Brown
Write me what You desire done to
III Linden avenue, East Liberty,
PARKER L. WALTER
Observe the mems: He will step
out of city Craftsmanship and let you
QUAY name his successor you
(Quay) are to name all delegates from
Allegheny county to state convention"
you (Quay) are to name all members
of state egislature-house and senate
from the county, You (Quay) are
to name national delegates Lar
kin to be elected under secret
agreement. "Gourley to be defeated
even if nominated ANY man you
(Quay) may name to be supported for
senate or president
The republic of the United States is
to be "a government of the
people, by the people, and for the peo-
pie and yet such things as are dis
closed by the above mems are posi-
BILE through the manipulation of party
All that we wish to saw
is that when such conditions exist.