Year: 1867

Unity.


"In union there is strength" is q true
nroverb which applies more forcibly to poll
tics than any other subject. Without unity
and harmony of action, no party, however
deeply rooted its principles may be in the
hearts of the people, and no matter how well
qualified the men may be to fill the positions
for which they receive nominations at its
hands, can hope to be long successful. Dis
turbing elements are constantly at work in
every political organization, which, if not
harmonized and quelled, invariably result in
the ruin and defeat of a party. The COM
mander-in-chief of an army would not en-
gage In battle with courageous and well dis
ciplined foe. if spirit of disa1ection and
insubordination prevailed in his own ranks,
and it would be just as suicidal for political
party to enter upon campaign, with the
expectation Of winning, when it was divided
against itself. The success of a party de-
pends in a great measure upon the sagacity
and foresight of its leaders. If those who
have the control of its action and the shaping
of its policy in their hands are possessed of
sufficient prudence and shrewdness to man.
age its affairs in such manner as to carry
with them the full and undivided strength of
the party, success is almost certain. But if
on the other hand, the leaders disagree upon
ha af ho ada 10
about the distribution of the offices, disaffec-
ton and dissension will surely creep into the
ranks and defeat is the inevitable result. The
Union organization is, and has been for sew
eral years past, the dominant party in this
State. Not much tact or shrewdness has
been necessary. or been exhibited in the man
Upon the breaking out of the rebellion, the
loyal masses, with but one object in view,
the perpetuation of tie Government, arrayed
themselves beneath the banners of the Union
party. and while their brethren in the East
were fighting rebels in the field they fought
Copperheads at the ballot-box. Political
prejudices and differences were forgotten,
party lines and distinctions were obliterated,
and the patriotic citizens of California, with
out regard to former political opinions, in
solid phalanx, shoulder to shoulder, march
ed to the music Of that party which had for
its platform, liberty, union and free institu-
tions. The great loyal heart throbbed to but
Thn -
shall be preserved" Amid such intense ex-
citement, and while the popular mind was
wrought up to the highest pitch of enthusi-
asm, no leadership was required to direct its
force into the proper channels. Elections
were carried as if by storm. At the pres
ent time the aspect of affairs presents a diff
ferent phase. The war has been brought to
successful termination and the excitement
which it created is gradually ebbing away.
Although the purposes for which the Union
party was formed are not all attained, many
of its members, losing sight of the moment
Gus issues still remaining unsettled, are TAX
ing sides upon the minor questions which
are agitating the country. A President who
was placed IN power by the suffrages of Un-
ion men, has proved recreant to the trust
imposed IN him, .and is unscrupulously WELD
ing the immense patronage at his disposal to
disrupt the party to which he owes his eleva-
ton. A well disciplined. willy foe. whose
only hopes for success are based upon the
do xybi oh in, ho ,f fl
Union party, stands ready to take advantage
of any errors committed. and are preparing
to desperately contest the elections next Fall.
These facts should be taken into considera-
tion by those to whom is entrusted the guild
ance of the Union organization and no efforts
spared to combine and harmonize the dis
cordant materials of which it is composed
The Executive Committee has already issued
call for the meeting of the State Central
Committee, to be held in San Francisco on
the 10th of April, for the purpose of taking
action in regard to the calling ofa State Con-
vention. Upon the delegates to that body
will devolve the duty of nominating ticket
to be voted for by the loyal citizens of this
State. Should they, by judicious selection
and distribution, present such an one as
will insure unity of action and command the
support of the entire party, no fears need be
entertained for the result. But should a
spirit of jealousy and unfairness characterize
their proceedings, the party will be divided
into petty factions and defeat surely follow.