Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-16
DO THE eRAxsERs wASTA THIRD
PARTY!

denotes developed thereby, have. more
than a local significance, for the West
and South especially. 1t viii be re.
membered that the Greeley campaign
was merely national elimination of
what was then known as the Missouri
movement. The Changers, and other
elements not then dreamed of, have
since developed hundred fold the
strength of Liberal Repubhcanism,
and In view of Missouri's ex-
perience, it is matter of interest to
know how that State stands to-day.
All the indications point to straight
out hght-a rally to the Democratic
banner, against the Radical party as
being responsible for all the evils
from which the country is suffering
monopolies of all kinds, misgovern-
ment everywhere, centraism and
wholesale corruption. Nowhere do we
see any glimmerings of the new, third
party, concerning which Senator
Schurz talks, but neither plans nor
predicts. An editorial in this week
RHral World-published by Col. Nor
man j. Coleman, prominent candi-
date for Governor, stanch Democrat
and the most influential Granger in
that State-would seem to indicate the
Missouri policy of the future. 1t is
profaced with this statement: "Since
the farmers movement originated,
we have freely mingled with them
in all sections of the State, and have
talked with them freely upon the polit-
ical phase of the movement. In our
public speeches we have taken the same
ground we shall here express, and it
has seemed to meet with the hearty ap-
proval of our auditors. In giving our
own views, then, We are but giving ex-
precision to the views of the masses of
this State They are the leaders now.
They dictate public opinion" We
make the following extracts as possess
ing equal interest for Tennesseeans,
while rejecting the public opinion of
Missouri:
There are some few persons who
think that a third party is essential.
Such is not our view. 1t is hard to
wean Iuen from the political parties
with which they have been united for
years-perhaps lifetime, with which
they have had JOY IN its hours of VIC
tory, and sorrow In Its hours of defeat.
A third party movement In this State
will meet with signal failure In our
Judgment, If inaugurated. The same
objects that such an organization
would set out to accomplish can be ac-
cOnpllshed much more certainly
through our present party organlza-
tons. But it will be asked how can
this be accomplished? We will an.
swer:
The masses were never so thoroughly
aroused as now. They are in earnest.
They mean reform. They intend to ex-
ercise the power they possess under our
republican form Of government. They
know they are the rulers, and are de-
termined to rule. This feeling prevails,
no matter to which party they belong.
There are not in the great State of Mis-
souri, more than a dozen counties that
the people VIII not control in contra
distinction to the wire-workers. Re.
publican farmers will attend Republi-
can conventions with sufficient numbers
to nominate the men of their choice. |
and third party movement would |
have please the masses, and could dono !
more, for their demand Is for good men.
Farmers belonging to the Democratic |
party will attend Democratic conven-
tons, and see that the best men In |
their ranks are nominated. Could a
third party do more than to put for
ward their best men? There is, then,
no necessity for a third party. Why
undertake the Herculean and uncer-
tain task of disrupting two political
parties to put into power third party,
when the masses of both parties intend
o do all that a new party possibly can
10? We had better fight in ranks
With which we are familiar We now
NOW our men. Weknow whomto trust,
ndwhom tc fear. But, if we get con-
,lomeration of both parties, or all par
les, we may not so certainly know our
nen-for long observation has shown
Is that bad men, disappointed men,
lefeated aspirants, are the very first
men to embark into new party move
nent, with the hope to better their for
unes.
In this connection we may mention
hat t. R. Allen, State Grange Master
f Missouri, has issued an address to
he Patrons of Husbandry of that
tate on the much agitated question
{ politics in the Grange. While he
,yally repeats the injunctions contain
q in the Declaration of Principles of
be National Grange, he is quite en-
hattie in urging his friends not to ig-
ore politics as individuals. In lam
mage very similar to that in which the
MON AND AMERICAN has urged the
uty of Tennesseeans, he says to the {
lrmers:
Don't you wait for politicians and
ne little ring-leaders to call you to- !
ether to ratify their ready made plans.
all your primary meetings yourselves,
nd see that politicians, Office seekers,
nd ring-leaders take back seats this
me. OF course they have as much !
ght there as you have, and as much
oice, but no more. Don't let them :
IN the machine. For all positions Sc
ct your best and most capable men,
no have not been seeking the position
There is no equiyocation here. AL !
lough the Grange, as a Grange, may s
; as purely non-political as any Church,
Masonic or Odd Fellows Lodge, yet |
lie good Granger will no more neglect {
IS political duty than the good Chris. Z
an, Mason. or Odd Fellow. None but f
rotten party or corrupt politicians q
led fear the honest masses of either
wn or country. !