Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-02-16
RITzVILLE, FEBRUARY, Is, 1898
THE FUSION QUESTION.

the question that is agitating certain
political circles at this time in this
state. Very many honest and con-
scientious men and women are debet-
ing the question in their own minds
and find the problem hard one to
solve. The News has nothing to say
in the way of advice to any political
party as regards their cause or pro-
ceedure, but we do claim the right to
air our views on fusion in the abstract.
We doubt very much whether it is
good politics and we doubt very much
if sufficient reason exists now or ever
existed to make it excusable for two
given parties to be near enough to-
gether to fuse and there be an excuse for
two parties; or, if there is such differ
ence of principle that the line of de-
narration is well enough defined
and clear cut between them to make
two parties, the News is unable to
understand how they can fuse, or
merge, without some sacrifice Of prin-
ciple, on the part of both of them. In
that case it would seem that sacrifice
of principle, is the very essence and
foundation of fusion; which is certain
ly not good politics and therefore in
excusable. We submit, if a party is
good enough to fuse with, it is good
enough to belong to, and that theory
followed to its conclusion would result
in amalgamation which in our opinion
is far preferable and more honorable
and more satisfactory than fusion for
the purpose of single election.
We venture again to assert that it
is safe to follow the rule that if a par
ty has any principle worth paying
attention to, it has too much to af-
ford to fuse, and if it has 80 little that
can fuse it is time to leave it. We
claim further that this holds good in
one party just as well as another.
The theory of the fusionist is the ends
justify the means, that a common war
is waged against common enemy,
that the great overshadowing question
of so and so is the vital question, that
minor differences can be laid on the
shelf temporarily, etc. Then why in
the name of common sense don't the
great vital question divide the people
into two sides, and there is only two
sides to one issue, and let the little
differences that don't amount to any
thing Cat least not enough to prevent
iusion) be burned in the dead past,
instead of letting the little differences
1ivide them into as many parties as
there are differences. The News is of
he opinion that such would be the
course pursued by the mass of the
people if they were let alone,
)nly they would decide what the vital
questions was, and there might be
more than one, and more than one
party might be, in their judgment
necessary. Some would contend for
principle even though the chance OF
Winning out were poor and uncertain,
nut the boss fusionist agitator though
lie is not generally much of a sticker
or principle, usually has an abnormal
appetite for pie, and would as a rule
use with anything, on any terms
hat had pie in it. We are talking
low about the leaders of the fusion
dea, take for example, this state.
Who was in the forefront advocating
usion in this state before the last
lection? Where are they? The most
If them are masticating political pie.
low about the grand principles and
Groundwork OF personal faith in the
fundamental principles of the respec-
i've parties who formed this fusion.
Are not those principles in their
reasts today no nearer solution as
ar as party supremacy is concerned
han they was then. Nine-tenths
ave about as little use for their late
llies,as political parties, as they have
or the party they defeated by fusion.
let those who may ,proclaim fusion as a
lorious thing, righteously, necessary,
nd wonderful success, but we must
our humble judgment regard its
ractice as questionable means to
nd unsatisfactory end.