, 1874-11-30
THE DOG CIR THE TAn,p

Ihero are few gentlemen scattered about
through tho Northwest who aro still discuss
ing this perplexing economic problem Does
the Jog wag the tail, or the tail wag the dog 7
Among these AEr. s. II. Smith, in this State.
aud a gentleman Of the historic name OF
James buchanan, in Indiana, still cling to tho
belief that the tail wags the dog. Mr., Bu-
chanan has chilled d Convention in Inlinnano.
lis today to indolse this yiew Of the caso =.
and -lr. Smith wants q Convention to meat
Tor the same purpose at Springfield Jan. 10
next. A1r. Smith is the Secretary of tl,e stato
Farmers Association, which was originally m
organization for tho discussion Of questions
OF special import to tho agricultural commu-
nifty. But AIr. Smith, with eubernatorial
aspirations deeply impressed upon his soul.
changed the functions Of this association into
that of political machine for bis own md
lis confederates' political uses about a yenr
ago at tho Bloomington mceling Since then
his va11lting ambition has leaped still higher
and further. No pent-up Utica now contracts
LIS powers. Flo evidently has the Presidency
IN his eye, for ho writes to Alr. Sw wiuctt, of
Iowa, that he desires his next Convention TO
+" na'lgurate measures for tho porfecting of q
National Independent party as well as
perfecting such party in all tho States of
the Northwest" A1r. Smith has no more
regard for past experience than ho has for tho
rules Of grammar. If he had, he would
havo known tint ho has entered upon fools
mission, aud that tic lato elections efrcctually
smashed, as political machines, the s' indie
pondents, " Or tho "Grangers," or the "Anti-
hlonopolists," or Whatever tho proposed now
party may call itself. In one word, the 80
called Farmers party was p1aying tail to tie
Democratic dog, aud tho result demonstrated
that the dog wagged the tnil, not that tho tail
wagsed the dog.
1t hns been tho exporionce Of many right.
thinking men who hive como together for
some practical reform that the plnyed-out
bnm.ners and dead-beats hanging on at the
skirts of existing parties would attach them
selves to tho new movement, and drag it into
the miro. This experience was ropented in
The case Of the honest farmers who won't into
The Grange movement. Nothing waa further !
from tile purpose Of most Of them than to
servo as lever to lift tic Democratic party |
nto power. But this is just what tl,oy did,
1nder the pernicioua guidance Of men who
lad lost their standing in the existing politi-
'al parties. In 1owa, where tile " Inlepoud-
'nts made a atraight~out fight under tho
'atoh-titla Of Anti-Monopoly," they were
|efcatod by 10000 majority, notwithstanding
ho support Of the Democrats. In Illinois
nd Intliana, where they encountered botl
ho Republican aud the Democratic
'arties, they merely succeeded in So.
uring tho success Of tile hitter. But
il both cases they dug thcir own grave and
hantod thelr own Rtqniem. The result of
ho recent elections has convinced tho Demo.
rats that thoy aro III tho majority in this
onntry under their own banner Tho TO-
nblicans still claim the privilege Of doubling
i but tho Democrats are 10 sanguino TINT
aoy will rur, n "last-aitch," candidate for
resident, will not GreeloyIzo, nor enter into
ompromtaea or combinations with the
rangers or anybody o1se. With this pro.
F@mme definitely axsl. thoy ass not goino