The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-10

| will be mad about it and keep mad ana let
| the people save themselves hereafter.
The National Party.
The Pennsylvania State Convention OF
the new political party which has been
rising for some time in the West, and which
makes this first formal, if not formidable
appearance in the East. completed its busi-
ness in Philadelphia yesterday, and ad-
journed sine die. The Convention nomi-
mated, smoothly enough, ticket for State
officers but its proceedings were not har-
monious respecting the platform. Its SEES
sion of Wednesday ran far into Thursday
morning, the adjournment for the day not
taking place until nearly three hours past
midnight. Before attempting to estimate
this protracted quarrel over the platform let
us glance at the general Significance Of the
movement. We must be just even to the
widest political freaks. We decline to de-
nounce the national party rs q set OF Com
munists. Communism, in the Paris sense,
has made no progress in this country. There
are small knots Of crazy Communists in
few Of our large cities, but as yet they have
no considerable following. There is no
other country where respect for property is
SO widely diffused Us in the United
States, because there Is no other where
SO large proportion OF the inhabitants
are owners Of property The younger,
more energetic and more influential
erty hope to acquire property, and have the
same respect for its rights that the majority
of as yet single people have for the rights
and sacredness OF marriage Communism,
in the European sense, will take no root in
the United States SO long as energy, econ
omy and business capacity retain their
chances of rising to competence and posi-
bly, to wealth. Neither men who possess
property nor men who hope to acquire
property are in danger Of becoming Com
munists, although demagogues practising
upon discomfort and ignorance may lead
them into errors; but into no errors. we
think, which discussion and instruction
may not rectify.
The growth of the national party only
proves that our regular political parties are
losing their control over the public mind.
They have lost respect because they have
ceased to deserve it. These effete organiza-
tons are thrashing over the old straw of
spent issues. It is no wonder that the peo-
pie are ready to run after political mounte-
banks. When the regular physicians of a
place forfeit confidence by their want of
skill and their patients die under their
hands quacks will get lucrative practice
in the place which is SO afflicted.
The rising influence of the national
party demonstrates the imbecility Of
our regular parties. Competent political
leaders will always have sufficient foresight
to keep the public 30 occupied with emerg-
ing questions of real importance that the
irregular skirmishers in politics cannot find
vacant minds to listen to their heresies.
| The vigorous fight in the Philadelphia
Convention was over the platform. A great
deal Of crude stuff was rejected, and al
though the platform finally accepted is not
sense tho rejected parts Of the one first
proposed were o mess Of arrant nonsense.
1t is needless to refute tho crotchets which
the Convention refused to swallow. One
Of them was that the ratio of interest should
not exceed three per cent, as If any law
could compel capitalist to lend at that
rate to person of doubtful credit. The
consequence of such law would be that
only persons Of the highest credit could
borrow money at all Persons of inferior
credit would be compelled to sell property
ut sacrifice of thirty or forty per cent in
order to raise money in an emergency,
whereas with free trade in money they
might borrow at eight or ter per cent and
be saved from selling property ut ruinous
loss Another feature of the platform
first reported was demand that specu-
lation in commodities shall DO pro-
hibited. Aside from the impossible
ity of executing such law it would
DO mistake. TO BIO sure, spectators,
when lucky, sometimes get suddenly rich !;
but they are nevertheless q benefit to the
community. When there Is likely to be o
short crop spectators ut once buy up oil
the grain in The market and then exact a
high price. This is q benefit, because tho
high price diminishes consumption and the
scanty crop is made to last till another har-
vest, whereas without such enhancement Of
price there might be famine before the next
harvest. A great deal Of nonsense embodied
in the first platform was rejected by q large
majority of the Convention, and the plat-
form finally adopted was not quite SO glar-
ingly irrational. The national party may
make an important figure in tho politics Of
tho year unless tho regular parties cvince
better grasp Of the political situation.
Constructive Cruelty 20 Children.