The Californian.
A WESTERN MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
Vol. II— SEPTEMBER, 1880.— No. 9.
"TO THE VICTORS BELONG THE SPOILS."
It is one of the cherished theories of this Government that every citizen participates, by his vote, in determining its policy. Its policy, by reason of the diversity and perversity of human nature, is the subject of controversy. These controversies are molded into a greater or less degree of definiteness by political parties. Political parties are, therefore, the mouth pieces through which, and the instruments by which, the individual citizen impresses his views upon, and aids in shaping, the policy of the Government.
The ideal political party does not possess the essential attributes of permanent life, and, in deed, has no real fitness for a continued existence. It is essentially a temporary association of those who desire to carry into effect some proposed line of policy. It does not, like a church or religious sect, aspire to the noble task of "regenerating mankind." Its platform does not, like a religious creed, assume to embody a code of moral conduct, nor set forth a general or special "plan of salvation." Its constituents do not claim to be the "elect," and they have no right (though they frequently ex ercise it) to assert the "total depravity" of those who do not subscribe to their principles. The church was established for the exalted purpose of supplying to the world that wisdom which is supposed to emanate from "on high," and it may well claim the right to exist until salvation is vouchsafed to every unrepentant sinner. But no political party has ever attempted to formulate, and adopt as a platform, a complete system of government. Its mission is necessarily limited to solving and settling such immediate problems and short-lived issues as are constantly arising in the history of every government. The true theory of a political party is, there fore, that it shall be an organized expression of public opinion on some present question of pol icy affecting the welfare of the State ; that it shall dissolve as soon as the issue is settled which led to its formation ; and that its constituent elements shall separate, and be at liberty to unite with opposing parties upon any new question that may divide the public mind.
But, strange as it may seem, such is not the theory, much less the practice, of the real political party, which claims to be, and is, in the strictest sense of the term, a permanent organization. It scorns the imputation of dealing simply with single issues, but assumes to possess a fountain of wisdom from which it may draw ad libitum for all future emergencies. It guarantees to its constituents that it has abundant skill and virtue to meet and successfully cope with any and every new issue that may arise. It tenaciously clings to its party name long after the issues which led to its formation have been settled, and rallies its followers with party war-cries that have long since lost their significance. Its party conventions are mighty convocations of politicians, who potentially dictate to the party masses principles to which they have never assented, or more frequently send forth weak, miserable, and deceitful platitudes, in the form of platforms, with which the party constituents are alike disgusted and indignant. It places in nomination, as "standard bearers," men who do not represent the principles of the party, or of whom the party massesVol. II—13.[Copyright by The Caltfornta Publishing Company. All rights reserved in trust for contributors.]
