Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-05-16
The THIRD Party.

suo oo-Chiicu NatlOuals sets the
third party fairly on its feet as
separate and independent political
organization. appealing to the suf-
irages OF the people with defined
aims and purposes. While it would
unquestionably be better for the
country if the theories represented
by the Communists could be -epress-
ed altogether, we are inclined 10 The
belief that their concentration into
. distinct political party is . m atter
for congratulation 50 long as total
repression is out of the question.
This will be the fairest way for the
Communists (and the Nationals are
nothing more nor less than Commune
ists) to test their popularity and
strength 10 this country. SO long
as they affected sympathy or sought
alliance with one or the other of the
existing parties, there was danger
that their real purpose would be con-
cealed, aud they might gain votes
under false pretenses that would nj
timately lead them into overestimat-
ing their own strength and betray
them into an excess of self confidence
that would make a great deal of
trouble. So long as they were be-
lieved to be formidable faction
without separate organization the
managing politicians of both the Re-
publican and Democratic parties
would pander more Or less to their
mischievous .vagaries, and there
would result a confusion of platforms
and prostitution 10 legislation that
would not fail to work infinite injury
to the conservative property inter-
ests OF the country. 1t is well there
fore,t that the Nationals should sound
their own tocsin, carry their own
flag, promulgate their own demands,
and enter the field Of politics to fight
for themselves.
The recent Philadelphia Conven-
ton has demonstrated that the Ma
tionais are determined upon this IN
dependent action. One circumstance
alone attests this sufficiently. Two
of the leading candidates for the Gu
bernatorial nominations were
Wright, Democrotic Congressman
from Pennsylvania, who has made
himself conspicuous by his Comm un-
istic sentiments, and Armstrong, a
Republican politician who expected
to carry off q large Republican vote
with him. 1t was even thought that
either of these men, once nominated
by the Nation alists, could also Sc
cure the nomination of his own party
An event which would certainly
have given the Nationals greater nu-
merlcal strength than they can com
mand alone. But the convention
would not listen to any such propo-
sition, and Mason, one OF their own
number, was nominated by an over.
whelming vote. Wright's rejection
was not because he was in any way
opposed to the Communistic doc
trines Of the Nationals, but because
he still acts with the Democrats !;
Armstrong; failure was not on ac-
count of any apprehension in the
Convention that he would not pan.
der to the Communistic element, but
on account of his continued affila-
ton with the Republican party. The
general sentiment of the Conven.
ton was in favor of severing all con-
nection with the old organizations,
and such was the result. This was
an open, straightforward, and COM
mendable course to pursue, and it
deprives both Democrats and Re-
publicans of any temptation and ex-
cuse for pandering to the fallacies
and iniquities of Communism. From
now on it may be safely predicted
that the party which shall undertake
to assimilate the pernicious doctrines
represented by the Nationals will
abandon any claim to conservatism
and drive the responsible classes
ove- to the opposing camp. If the
Democrats shall continue to court
en- alliance with the Communistio
element, as they have been doing to
a considerable extent throughout the
country, the property owners and
business men of that party will act
with the Republicans. Nothing is
more certain than that Communism N,
once clearly defined as political is.
sue, will encounter the solid, united
resistance of all men who have prop.
erty rights and interests to conserve
and defend.
In entering upon an avowed strug.
gle for independent political exist.
ence. the Nationals lave evidently
counted upon one important elem ent
that will desert them. The Ameri.
can farmers have nothing in common
with them. A couple of years ago,
the term "Granger" was identified
with that class of the American pop.
ulation that demanded an irredeem.
able paper currency, " founded upon
the faith and resources of the nation
and equal in volume to the business
demands of the country This
phrase was never clearly defined but
it fascinated large number of the
farmers. 1t opened up visions of
an abundance of money, high prices
for their crops, speedy emancipation
from debt, the carnival of war times
and, without stopping to reason
out the natural consequences of an
other national debauch, they readily
Joined the imitation lunatics. But
this solecism of fiat money is but an
insignificant incident in the pro-
gramme of the National party as
it is now organized. The demand
for an unlimited and irredeemable
paper currency is no longer the sole
and not even the most prominent,
demand of the third party. The
first and foremost aim of the Nation.
ais is to use the Government as an
agent for the distribution of other
peoples property. IL is to begin by
furnishing Government money to
colonize and support the tramps and
city loafers the next step will be
to demand for these classes lands
that have already be en- improved,
for the Communists are not people
who want to accumulate property
by hard labor of their own. Mean