New-York tribune., 1874-08-25
A PEOPLES PARTY.
STRENGTH OF THE NEW MOVEMENT IN
MISSOURI

STILL ALIVE AMONG THE EDEMOtHAIo-rhooTh|i
OF BOLT TO THE ISDEPESDENrs-TnE GER
MANS AND THE FARMERS.
(rRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBUsE1
ST. LOUIS, Aug. Bipartisan politics have about
"played out !" in the West. The old rallying cries
fail to arouse the people any more committees,
caucuses aud conventions labor almost in vain and
there seems to be q general breaking away from
party allegiance and an almost universal dstrust OK
old party leaders. The Farmers movement has doDe
much to unsettle poitica. Nominally n0n-political
in its character it has, nevertheless been the means
of bringing into the closest social relations men who
have heretofore been less separated by
party barriers led them to the freest discussion OF
all public questions, fostered independence Of
thought and action and furnished to those who wero
dissatisfied with their old party relations, a semi
political asylum without the necessity of actually
desertng to the ranks of the enemy.
Missouri scarcely needed movement of this kind
to make revolution possible here. The people Of
this State, unlike those of the Northwest are bolt
ers both by nature and education, and their inde-
pendent or third party movements have so often
been crowned with success that the party yoke has
for years rested lightly on many shoulders When
in 1870 the people Of Missouri broke away from all
old political associations, and ably led by Senator
Schurz carried the State for Gratz Brown in spits
of the money and the patronage of the Admnistra-
tiOn at Washington, it no "sore-head," office
hungry party that triumphed. The cause was ono
which appealed to every mans sense OF justice and
the result was the rescue of the State from the pro-
scriptve rule of Bourbon Republicans Now all is
changed; Bourbon Democracy rules the State and
if it is less proscrptive than Grantism was in 1870.
it is only because its opportunities are less. while in
all other respects it Is more Objectionable to tho
honest people Of Missouri than any Republican adj
ministratien has been.
ORIGIN OF THE PEOPLES MOVEMENT.
The sudden awaking Of the people of the State
after the long political slumber that succeeded tho
campaign of 1872 was graphically described IN q
letter printed in THE TRIBUNE few weeks ago.
Yon already know how the Peoples Movement"
started about the 1st of JulY how the call issued
by the Advisory Board" of the Grange of this
State-an organization created by the Patrons but
not part of the Grange-was responded to through
out the State by newspapers of both parties; you
have heard that Peoples conventions have been
held in great many counties, and that, ignoring
parties the very best men have been chosen to tho
State Convention of Sept 2; you aware that the
Republican State Committee at regular meeting
voted that it was inexpedient to call Republican
State Convention, and you know that The st. Louts
Globe is the only prominent Republican journal in
therefore only remains for to tell you something
of the growth of this new party during the past
month the relations it sustans to the old organiza-
tons, and to give you some idea of the sentiments
and intentions of the people as have gathered
them from conversations with leading men repre-
sentng all shades of political opinion and fro n
careful perusal of newspapers from all parts OF the
State. .
COOPERATION OF THE REPUBLICANS.
The Peoples Movement has been confined thus
far TO State politics.; no National issues have been
discussed 1t is an attempt to put good men IN pub
lie place instead of bad men, to secure rigid exc
cutlon Of the laws the prompt punishment Of crime,
and the protection of life and property as well on
the frontier as in the older cities and towns to en-
courage immigration by an honest aud economical
administration of affairs which shall result IN lower
taxes; and finally, to stamp out that spirit OF pro-
scription which has begun to show itself IN the
Democratic party, not only against Repubhcans, but
against Liberals and Democrats who were Union
men during the Rebellion. To accomplish all this
the new party must first have the hearty support or
majority of the Republicans of the State. At first
Thought it would seem as though there could be no
serious opposition to this movement within the Re-
publican ranks. Its principles, 80 far as they have
heen enunciated. are identical with those Of the
Repubican party in its better days, with only such
notifications as time and the course OF events havo
made necessary. The old Republican party is in
homeless minority that its adherents sacrifice the
home of neither present future success By aban
doninp their old organization. Nothing short OF
nolitica revolution can restore them TO power
in this State.
And vet a considerable faction Of the Republican
party. led by The 81. Louis Globe holds back. That
journal denounces the action of the Republican
State Committee as irregular and VOID, anddemands
it reconsideration while some OF the Federal oice-
holders are extremely bitter ntheir opposition III
ia simpIy an attempt of the Liberal tail to wag tho
Radical dogn said one OF the latter to last even
ing. with considerable emphasis. "Crosvenor and
Schurz and their 10000 Liberals think they can
swallow ND 10000 Republican voters, and that We
won't kick any as we go down their throats. l tell
YOU that we would rather that the Democratic party
should stay in power till doomsiay than that
crowd should run the machine. They are traitors TO
the Republican party, and If have to choose De-
tween voting for ticket put up by them and DEM
ocrat. shall vote for the Democrat" ! have no
doubt that this gentleman told the truth in his last
assertion. There is a class of Bourbon Republicans
in this State who hate the boilers of 1870 and the
Liberals of 1872 far than they hate the Bonr-
bon Democracy aud would prefer to see the latter
succeed. suspect them OF cherishng the hope that
# tbe Democrats have full swing about two years
longer their rule will become expensive and un-
nomlar rs to bring about reaction in favor of the
simon.pure Administration Republican party.
They are apparently willing to have the State suffer
for the presentf in the end they get once more the
distribution of the loaves and fishes. Again, the
average Federal ofiice-hoder, il his party cannot
control the State, very little how small
the party is-the patronage will more nearly 20
around among small ring of politicians than
among many.
DEMOCRAT AID NECESSARY TO SUCCESS.
But the majority of the Republican voters OF the
State are ready for any alliance that promises suo-
cess for the nrinciples they believe in. Some OF