The record-union., 1898-08-27
A NEW TEMPORARY PARTY.

Populist, Republican and Democratic
factions from these parties have allied
themselves in fusion in this State,
which creates practically an independ-
ent party for the purpose of downing
the National Republican party and then
dissolving and disappearing
Twenty three years ago last April the
Record Union" had occasion to refer
to another Independent party then
forming for precisely the same purpose,
and which went the way of all such
ephemeral organizations. The COM
ments then made upon such evanscent
parties apply to-day with singular fit
ness to the ola podrida that sails under
the Maguirean flag.
This fusion party makes no claim
whatever to permanency, is conceded
by it's parents to be momentary, and
without a future, as it is without a
past. The sole purpose Of it's expert
mental existence is to divide the spoils
discordant elements.
In 1876 the Record Union" in con-
sidering the claims Of an independent
party made up by a fusion of incon-
grous units drawn from the two great
parties of standard vigor and expec-
fancy, quoted from the work of that
eminent student of politics. Dr. Francis
Lieber, whose Political Ethics con-
stitute to this day a standard text
book and authority. That distin-
guished scholar and critic had written
nearly forty years before that date,
reannouncing the necessity for great
political parties in a free State.
He declared. that a free country could
impossible for civil liberty to exist with
out parties" Though this was written
sixty years ago the experience Of men
since and the justification Of history
maintain the truths he ennunciated.
Every experiment to do without par
ties has failed, said the Record Union"
in 1875, and so it says to-day, and so
the truth will remain concerning any
experiments of that character.
We quote now, as then, from Lieber
that historical parties are those
founded I'M the history OF their country,
through long series Of years adhering
to certain ideas handed down from
generation to generation, developed ami
understood by repeated practical appli-
cation, and expanded into a certain
system of doctrines having root in the
practical life of a nation. Such are
historical parties, all others are pass
ing"
The Republican and Democratic are
historical parties, the fusion of the
Democratic and Populist factions for
a temporary purpose puts aside and
closets one of these historical
parties and erects passing
and ephemeral one, "for momentary
purposes" as Lieber would have put
IT. Such movements, he declares, ARE
merely for the carrying out of a single
measure, or for displacing an admin
getting In. Such are not" says Aeber,
.unfrequently Influenced by ill-judging
vanity"
Very frequently such organizations
are born of political vacillation, weak
ness, inconsistency of temperament or
self-interest" The fusionists of Cali
fornia to-day opposing the party Of
progress, uplifting and aggressiveness;
the party that believes the manifest
destiny of the country to be a sacred
trust which must be executed, and rich
in beneficences for the world, are or
ganized into what, we repeat, is prac-
tically an independent party, with old
political regalia discarded temporarily
Tt is q, passing affair. It has no cone
sive qualities. 1t lacks the vigor to
plant or defend the standard of prin-
ciple, and its sole aim is to achieve di-
vision of places among asfnfxed crowd
Of applicants. 1t is an adventurer
party. composed of those to whom ex-
pediency is of more concern than prin-
oiple, and infatuation for a fanciful
.isrn.,, better than love of economic
truth
It is an organization led by political