The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-08-21
A Peoples Party.
BENJAMIN PETREE.

EDITOR REPUBLrCtN-Iti is very evil
dent that there will be a Peoples party
in the field this fall. Recent develop
ments have proven this beyond the pos
sibility OF doubt. Such being the con-
dition of things politically, the question
naturally suggested would be, what
effect will it have upon the two great
parties now in existence? Win there
be three parties in the field, or only
two? II only two, which one must yield?
The peoples party will not yield to any
other partv-then either the Democratic
or Republican party will disappear, and
the question arises. which one will 1t
he? This has been answered tor Us in
every State in which the Peoples party
has been inaugurated The dominant
party has made the attempt to remain in
power, and in some ius.ance has for
the time being maintained is position.
IL one party alone in the various States
had made their efforts. and the other
quietly aquicSced in the popular move
ment, then ii would be plain To be seen
that one party, as :. party. was opposed
10 the peoples movement, whilst the
other approved il. The opposition
party might then, with some consistency,
claim that the Peoples party failed to
adopt Il policy which would prove ben
eficial to the masses; therefore It would
be nothing more than acting in good
faith to the masses TO retain in tact
their political organization. But the
facts show very different state of
things. In every State, and in fact in
every county in those States, the party
in power makes the assault upon the
Peoples party. Such being the caSe,
we must look in some other direction
for Il solution Of this question. And in
doing so, we must assign Il cause that
under the same circumstances will al
ways produce the s....Ie effects.
Ii is very evident that the dominant
party in each State is very ANXIOUS to
continue lis leasehold upon the various
Offices and remain III power. without as
signing any other reasons than that it
is the successful party. and that all who
are looking forward to positions had
better adhere Ia their party. This is
the old doctrine taught for many Years
by every politician in the land.
If your party has a clear majority
over all others, stick TO it, or YOU will
never get your share of the plumber, is
their platform. Then we assign. rs the
cause of the dominant party in each
State desiring to remain in Office. the
fact that il is infested and controlled by
a gang OF corrupt politicians, whose
sole object is 10 remain in power, that
they may the more eilectually rob and
oppress the people. Neither the Dem
ocratic or Republican party has giyen
evidence that they are not involved III
this disrepuCaoie business, and chat
they are not equally unable TO render
the desired relief 50 much sought after
by the people.
Is it anything to be wondered al, then,
if the people have become dissatisfied
with the condition of affairs, and are
determined to take the matter into their
own hands?
The cry Of the dominant parties is
.'remain in your present political organ
izations, and by force of your intelli-
gence and moral worth. you can purify
the parties and make them just such as
you would have them, and by SO doing
you will retain in tact your organiZa-
ton, and time-worn principles" At
first we were rather favorably I'M
pressed with this clap-trap theory, but
when we reflect that the honest men of
both parties have been laboriDg for
years to bring about this much-to-be-de-
sired result, and have as signally tailed,
not only to correct the evils complained
OF, but even to check them. We are ir-