Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-10
THENdTIONAL PARTY.

Our telegraphlc reports tnls morning
contain the wording of the platform, laid
down by the Pennsylvania State convention
of the National party, or the ''National
Greenback Labor" party, as the assemblage
at Philadelphia prefers to be called. If this
party with the complex name has nothing
better to offer to the public than the plat
form aforesaid, we do not see why any voter
should be tempted to leave either of the old
political organizations and join the ranks of
the new one. Everything that is said in the
platform had long before now been said over
and over again by men whose utterances were
much more likely to command attention than
those of the delegates who formed the
meeting at Philadelphia. If there be any
distinguishing characteristic of the collec-
ton of phrases announced as the "princi-
ples'' of the convention, it is the incongruity
of their demands. In one sentence monop-
olies are assailed. In others "high pro-
| tective tariffs and subsidies to steamships
and other such enterprises are warmly re-
commended. It is evident that the mem
| beers Of the convention were go dull as not to
| perceive that :'protective" tariffs and subsidy
systems are the most fertile producers OF
monopolies that could be invented. Again
the convention assumes the name OF
Labor" but it's demands all aim at the cen
tralization of power over all productive in
terests in the hands of ''paternap' govern
ment, as if the experience of ages had MOI
| 80 @ho OH
never so bad as under a strongly centralized
:paternal'' administration.
We have no desire to belittle the import
ance of the effects that this Pennsylvania
convention and others of similar kind tt
follow may have upon elections which or
about to take place. Misgovernment ant
the inevitable results of prolonged civi
wal have created a general feeling of dis
content and uneasiness that causes men O
small reasoning faculties to be deluded b.
any schemes or promises of relief that hav
the thinnest veneering of plausibility. Henc
we consider it probable that III many part
of the country the plans of politicians be
longing to the regular parties will be great
little time later. That the movement, how
ever, is spasmodic only we have no doub
Even now, those who profess to belon
to the National party have no distinctive bon
of union. Their theories about protectio
can be found pervading the Republican part.
Their ideas concerning finance are Unite
to no party. They claim to be the chan
!, pious of labor, but in this land all partie
, are made up of those who labor either wit
hand, brain, or both. The disturbing way
will perhaps carry some few aspirants fl
! Office into places of more or less promi1
, ence, but there it will end, disintegrating If
y lack of cohesive sympathy.
The only danger to be feare
from this movement is that
, may evolve into an outburst
lawless force. The convention at Phil,
, delphla was wise enough to disavow al
countenance to violence or lawlessness; he,
ertheless the catch-words used by the leader
in the agitation are such as tend to il
! flame the unreasoning passions OF uned,
o Gated men. When such men have discovere
q that their expectations are not to be realize,
that the promises made to them are me-
snares to entrap their votes, convulsi,
8 struggle for revenge, or to gain by for'
f what could not be secured by the ballot, ms
t ensue. Such an uprising would, of cours
4 be of short durance, and the men engage
!, in it would be the chief sufferers; but no,
; the less should honest and intelligent cit
!, zens, whatever be their calling in life. exc
' their efforts to avert the possible cata
trODhe.