Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-04-16
PARTY TACTICS.

Third parties have been IN vogue
ever since Radicalism began to decline
in the esteem of any considerable num-
/ Der Of its adherents. The least obser-
want of our readers Will concur with us
that they have proven almostuniformly
luckless and futile. In innumerable
contests in various States the expert
ment has been tried, with no success.
Here, then, is a large class of stubborn
political facts-the failures of third
parties. Yet there are indica-
tons that the experiment is not to be
| abandoned. On the 9th inst. a call en-
anated from the capital of Indiana for
a convention to erect a new party on
the so-called ruins of Democracy and
Radicalism. This call p~rofessed to
have the sanction of the Patrons of
Husbandry Of that State, but it wa
promptly repudiated by the authorized
opponents Of that Order. 1t is impossi-
D1S ludI lnlS mONSAiCAI CdA NC AhduS-
urated with any intelligent OF reason
able hope of success. A politician or
leader of any sagacity whatever will
pause, before attempting another de-
parture, to ascertain the cause of past
failures. If he be a man of
thought and reflection he will certainly
do this. The facts are before him, and
they have a significance The scientific
spirit of the age demands that their
meaning shall be defined. No capable
leader will ignore them. If he find the
cause of failure inherent in third
partyism he Will distrust the
experiment utterly. Parties to
be successful must have leadership and
all classes of citizens will agree with
us that We ought not to follow unthink-
ing or obtuse leaders. We insist that
the leadership which viii, In the pre-
sent condition of American politics,
place itself at the head of a new party,
is of the dull, ~improvident school.
That this commentary is just will ap-
pear from a little thought. The real
practical, live issue in American poll
tics to-day is honesty, economy and
efficient government. Other issues are
dead; others are dormant, while others
still are only prospective. This one is
full of life, buoyant with vitality; be-
cause, while the dominant party pro-
fessed economy, honesty and eff
cient government, it practices ex-
travagance, dishonesty and cumbrOus,
laundering administration. The all alb
sorbing issue is against th~epractices of
Radicalism, and this issue Democracy
has monopolized. 1t requires an issue
10 maintain an old party and JortiOri
it.requires one to organize a new party.
The issues which third parties invaria-
bly, make is that already monopo-
lied by the Democratic party. The
which the Indiana m~alcOntents
propose to make with Radicalism is
the rightful and de facto monopoly of
the Indiana Democracy. The hope
lessness of an issueless third party
contending with one adversary is pal
pable enough; but what is to be said
of such a party contending with tCO
adversaries: 1t has no weapon ex-
clusively its own with which to
strike the one, and no ~eficacious
whatever with which to attack
the other. The Indiana departurists
declare that no new issue has arisen;
that there are no questions which
to divide the people of Indiana"
This is as much as a shrewd citizen
would wish to hear In order
to form his opinion of the
prospective movement. Every sound
consideration of political tactics
points a stubborn finger to the inevita.
Die failure of every t~hird-party, which
cannot claim a single important issue
Is its own. Great parties are created by
great issues and the want of an issue
fatal TO party enterprise.
Third party leaders and Democrats
nave the same objective, the destruc-
ion of Radicalism; but third party
men, while assaihng the common ad.
7ersary, commit the blunder of keep
ng up an unnecessary and irrational
hostility to the enemy of its enemy. 1t
S miserable g~eneralship not to court
he amity of the latter, at least until
he common enemy is destroyed. We
insist, therefore, that the leadership of
lew departures is necessarily a low or
Ter of political talent, and unworthy to
re followed. Every consideration of
prudence and sagacity dictates that !
hose who would oppose Radicalism
With any reasonable hope of success, ]
hOuld fall into the same line of
The Democratic party holds
he line which commands all
he strategic points and possesses the |
dvantage of organization, discipline t
nd zeal in its cause. If success be the :
riteriOn of the opponents. of Radical
SIN they will all fall into the ranks of
Democracy. The reasonableness of ]
UGH a policy is increased by the fact .
hat victory is perching upon the ,
standard everywhere. If
be a crime to wage a hopeless war;, it q
certainly folly to wage a hopeless !.
contest. f
YESTERDAY the House of Represent p
tives passed an act for which the Re- Il
ublican party must expect the prompt .