The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-12
A NEW PARTY.
From the N. Y. Nation.

From the N. Y. Nation
Not long ago, limitations were heard in no
less place than the Senate Chamber that
ideas were afoat which looked to the forma-
ton of new party. Mr.. Drake even in
sinuated that the notion had influenced the
course of Senators themselves. II have heard
of such things" said he, "as individuals
taking it into their heads that the Republican
party was to go to pieces, and looking out to
see whether they could plant their anchors to
windward in the new party that was to come
up. Who knows-who can tell but that this
idea may have entered the sacred precincts of
this Senate Chamber ?" Who indeed The
Senate Chamber would in fact be the very
first place such an idea might naturally enter,
since it is the place whore party perplexities
are most strongly felt. Scarcely one consde-
rable question has been raised in Congress
this winter on which the Republican party
has acted with unanimity. There is scarcely
an important measure now before either
house on which party lines are likely
mendation made by the President has
been warmly supported by his party
friends in Congress. and the administration
has been responsible for very small share of
| what its friends in Congress have decided to
do If the President had chosen it, or if he
| had understood the power of his situation,
he might easily have had two administration
parties in the legislature, each swearing its
| fidelity and devotion, instead of, as now, COM
bining to thwart and humiliate him. There
was no reason why the President should have
allowed himself to be treated as he has been
treated this winter. The Virginia bill might
have been passed as it came from the House.
Judge Hoar need not have been rejected
The foreign treaties might have been con-
frmed. Mr.. Dawes attack might have been
avoided. Even Mr.. Boutwells financial policy,
if he had had financial policy, might have
been treated with respect, if the administra-
ton had been strong enough to take advan-
tage of the condition of parties in Congress.
But such balancing of political combinations
was not in the Presidents character, and he
| preferred to endure with patience the steady
series of Sights inflicted on him by friends
and enemies alike.
If the Republican party is in trouble,
the Democrats are quite as badly off. Their
internal dissensions are more dangerous than
anything the Republicans have to suffer. II
it were possible to throw aside all party afhlia-
tions, many leading Democrats would be GLAD
to do SO, and take their chance of new cast
of the dice. Now that reconstruction is
passed, there is scarcely point on which
Democrats are agreed, not even that of the
} tariff; and to purify their organization SO a'
! to regain public confidence is long and diff
cult task, unless they are aided by their ad-
versaries mistakes.
These are some of the reasons which have
r led many persons to consider in grave earnes
the possibility of forming a new party-aI
! idea which has led more politicians into poll
tical bogs and quagmires than even the oppo
site notion of blind party devotion. On
party has commonly little superiority t.
another in its modes of corruption and
Tammany belongs to one side, the oarpet-bal
: gentlemen belong to the other But at leas
we can measure present evils, and can wor
Il for a gradual cure: the swarm of flies that ha
: now settled on the nations sores, at a.
Q events, serves to keep hungier swarm at
5 distance Old parties too, have a name t
uphold and principles to maintain. If the
g make mistakes, they can be punished II the
n reform, they can be rewarded. Even the oil
Tammany is not so alarming as new Tam
many would be- and in the upturning OF
new party, who can tell what scum woul
:. rise to the topp How long was the Republ
can party pure and what reason have we 10
% believing that, If the new party is pure, It ca
z | be successful or, if successful, that 1t wlll
+ a shade purer than the present organizations
% But there are reasons, much more urger
IS than these, for questioning the practic'
70 utility of such movement. The reason wh
It both of the existing parties are crumohng
Is pieces is, that they are unable to agree with
n themselves on course to be pursued. Ihel
are two great popular issues on whicn alone
l. new party could be based. One OF these
20 free trade; the other is, hard money. Meth,
st the Republieon nor the Democratic par
ID dares honestly face both these issues at ono
a and the consequence is that there is no long
IF any established line Of opinion between ther
le A new party, to be worth existing at all, mu
he plant itself firmly on both these positions,
a, It will have no advantage over its pred
T. cesa0Ts.