The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-25
THE GRANGE ADVANCE.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST Is, 1875
H. H. YOUNG, Publisher & Editor.
OUR GREETING.

But as we occupy, politically, a posi-
ton antagonistic to every other news
paper editor in the State, it is fair to
presume that opinions formed from in
formation derived from such sources
may not be wholly reliable. Since 1870
we have been an Anti-Monopolist. We
saw, at that time, that all attempts to
effect reforms in the government through
the agency Of the old party organiza-
tions must be abortive for several sufi-
cient reasons.
First, those parties were alike under
the control Of capitalists and trading
politicians, whose interests would be
damaged by the proposed reforms, and
it was not practicable to release them
from such subsection. Secondly, those
who really governed these old parties
appeared to have such perfect under.
standing with each other as to make
them truly partners instead Of oppo-
nents, and the triumph Of either was
still triumph of the same ring or as
ISOLATION of managers, who divided the
spoils amongst themselves. Thirdly,
the Democratic party was 80 generally
obnoxious to the people that the main
tenance of its organization was simply
having the effect of securing continued
dominancy to the Republican organiza-
ton.
Under such circumstances it was rot
plausible to suppose, first, that the
Democratic party could succeed; Sec
ond, that any advantage would result
to the people if it did succeed and,
third, that it's maintenance would not
be an insurmountable difficulty in the
way of the formation of a new reforma-
tory party.
History informed US that nearly all
new parties have sprung up as third
parties and, opposing both the others,
drawn strength from both, and that ul-
timately the remaining factions of those
pre-e1isting have consolidated, and the
result has been that only two parties
opposing each other, were left in the
field. 1t was thus when the Republi-
can party was formed. Numbers Of
old Democrats and old Wings W ent in
to the new organization, and the rem
nants of the old parties united under
the standard of the most numerous of
the two-the Democratic.
The reason was obvious. The old
issues which had divided the Wings and
Democrats had worn out by the changes
wrought by time, and upon new issues
which had sprung up the masses of
these old parties were divided amongst
themselves. A third party then arose,
embodying this new principle, and be-
coming the natural opponent of both
the others, these coalesced to oppose it.
The same circumstances precisely exist
now. The issues separating the Demo-
Gratis and Republicans have become eff.
fete, and sharply defined new issues
have arisen, concerning which the lead
ers of both the old parties are arrayed
on one side, and the industrial classes of
the country upon the other. Neither of
the old parties can become the advocate
or friend of these new measures, be-
cause the interests Of the leaders of
both are alike opposed to it. Hence,
for those of us who favor the reforms
demanded, to hope that we can act
with or through either of them is sheer
est folly. We might as we'll hope to
make candle more luminous by plung-
ing it into dirty water.
These are the considerations which
led US to urge the formation Of the In
dependent Reform, or Autobiography
party, and they are still sufficient to in
fuence US to advocate the independent
maintenance of that Organization, I'M
embarrassed by. any alliance with either
Democrats or Republicans. We are
satisfied that a very large proportion of
the people of the State are with US in
this opinion, and our purpose is to make
the ADVANCE the exponent of the prin-
c,ples Of the Anti Monopoly party, and
the advocate Of this idea Of independent
action. To this course we shall adhere
persistently, and hope to be able to
make it apparent to every thinking man
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