Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-06-09
THE UNION PARTY.

In Oregon it was the logical Sc
quence Of the Bryan campaign. 1t
had to be fought out on that line, and
all that has been accomplished in the
election is a clear gain for the people.
Whether it shall be continued is an
open question. THE JOURNAL pro-
poses to discuss it good naturedly.
That the Populists and Prohibition
ist propose to keep up a separate
party organization no one can doubt.
So far as those organizations are con-
cerned they are as alien to any Uaion
OF Silver and Reform forces as the
Gold Standard Republican party,
The charges and countercharges OF
Democrats and Popullsts, that either
side threw the other down, cannot be
passed upon here. Without the Union,
none but Republicans had been
elected. With it wehave accomplished
a partial victory.
The Union OF forces should be
maintained. 1t is stronger in defeat
than it would have been in victory.
The party that goes iuto power has
tremendous tasks before IL, and will
bear an enormous responsibility. Not
the strongest elements of the Repub-
lican party are put TO the front by
any means.
They cannot but make mistakes.
They cannot but cause cbagrln and dis
appointment to their own organization.
A party is always weakest in power.
The disposition of patronage, the con-
duct of the legislature, the control OF
the administration, are source OF
constant weakness to the party in
power and the outs will profit by it.
Republicans realize this fact.
Their papers are demanding that
reform record shall be made.
Following extracts from the two
leading Republican papers shows
what the feeling is:
Indications are that Multnomah
county is sending a solid Republican
delegation TO the legislature, some
thing it has not done for years. Thus
equipped, this community ought to
secure now the judicial and municipal
reforms for which it has long been
laboring. ng.-Oregonian
The Statesman proposes to insist
upon reform measures and economical
ADMINISTRATION in state, district, and
COUNTY. In future campaigns, we
must not be hampered by bad meas
ures or failures to repeal bad measures
on the part OF Republican legislatures,
aud by bad records of Republican of.
ficial,. If we can 90 before the people
IN the future with clean records for
good and economical government, we
can hold Oregon solidly Republican
for years to come.
Now for such records, and out on
the men who fail to make them
Statesman.
1t matters not by what name 1t
shall be called, there will and there
must be maintained a strong we'll or
ganized party of opposition forces in
city, county and state TO protect the
people. In their hour Of need they
will turn To IL for relief. If Republi
cans continue to break their pledges,
fail to give relief and continue to
IN Ike life burden to the taxpayer,
the Union is the only party to whom
the people can turn. To it they will
turn. whether IL be called Democratic
Peoples, Union or Citizens.
The principle of an united opposi
tiCn TO those in power sAnglo-SaXon.
The principle Of dividing the people
into number OF little parties is mon
archistlc. 1t Is the imperlalistic
doctrine Of minority rule. we shall
favor the strongest Union possible at
all times in the interest of the people.
We say all this without dlsrespect
TO the Republicans, This Union |
campaign has not been conducted as
some might have wished. We should |
have centued the campaign for state
and county offices TO state and county
affairs. The iinanel i issue was in
YolYed only on congressman.
The mistake was made OF
bringing the national issues
into the field, with such prominent
agitators as.Soyerelgp, Cyclone Davis,
and Others.
The Editor OF THE JOURNAL beg
ged Congressman Lentz OF Ohio not
TO attack the administration, and ne
did moderate his speech somewhat.
But all such addresses were unwise.
The voters preferred all the evils they
have 10 county and state Affairs TO