The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-04-22
THE pOLITICAL SITUATION.

1QC 4 IOltEEJ = 1865 %
1t can only achieve success under the Lead
ershin Of men IN sympathy with the ideas of
the present generation, pledged not simply to
q half hearted, negative, technical acqules-
cence in, but to hearty enforcement OF the
blood sealed covenants Of the constitution In
other words, il the Democratic party would a.
tract or retain the support OF intelligent,
honest, and patriotic men, now Or recently N
the Republican ranks, it must turn its back
on the past, and become the party OF reform
xnd progress, in tact as well as in profession.
This, we understand, is what the Dem
ocratic- Liberal Republican party Of Min
nesota proposes to 90. Witness the sig
nificant resolution unanimously adopted
last winter, and which we have kept
standing ever since on the first column Of
our editorial page, wherein they turn
their backs on the past and set their
faces, full and square, to glorious future
of liberty and progress.
There are, however, thousands who are
not Democrats, or Liberals, or Greeley
Republicans. and who nevertheless do
not want to vote the Republican ticket
this fall if they can help it men repre-.
sented in another column by our friend,
Hon. Joseph Goar, Of Morristown. They
want a Reform Party, or People s
Party, or an Independent Party, or some
thing Of that kind, identified with neither
Of the old parties, and owing allegiance
to no dogmas Of the past.
Why cannot all these elements, consti'
tuting in the aggregate 1.-The Opposition,
agree to unite as far as they can agree
and to disagree as far as they can moi
agree; and if possible vote partly or alto
gether for the same ticket This wouid
be triumph Of the principles they hold
in common: but not an endorsement Q
any principles they may not hold il
common.
If the Democratic party Of the nation
was identical in feeling and CONSTITUTED
with the Democratic party Of Minnesota
there would be no difficulty in the way
But we find, in conversation with tn
people, that many former Republican
, shrink back in fear and trembling, les
the Democracy Of the South, or Of Ne,
York. may commit them, this year or tn
. next, to some line of policy hostile to al
4 their lifelong principles and feelings
Hence great deal depends on the actio
of the Democratic majority in the mex
! House of Representatives. If they ris
to the level Of their grand opportunit
9 there will not be enough left of the Gran
. Republicans in 1876 to hold ward meet
. ings anywhere in the United States.
e on the other hand they exhibit an unwis'
J unpatriotic, reactionary or seditious ten
n per, their frmest adherents will desc,
: them, and Democracy will have made PEI
u manent wreck Of itself.
y Hence while the public mind is in tn
e uncertain, unresolved and formative col
S dition it would be madness to bring fort
It the Bed Of Procrustes, and insist tn
! every man who did not naturally fit
q must be stretched out or chopped off u
J til he did. Parties are voluntary ass
n Citations Of men holding the same view
J. You cannot draft men int . party ;
"a force them in, as England used to m,
D her ships, by the press-gang. In Il
q case drop Of honey is worth barrel
;" vinegar.
m And when you tell . man that he nu
t have his hind-.egs chopped Of before
IS can vote your ticket, he is very apt
kick you and your Procrustean arranl
o. ment head over heels out Of the windo
10 That is human nature, and human I
ture is little older than the Declarati
- of Independence.
Q. Go slowly, gentlemen; and initiate
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