The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-02-17
WHAT WILL THE ISSUE BEE

II coming events cast their shadows be
FORE" there are indications Of an eventfu
political campaign IN 1884. We have seer
Tammany Hall ostracised and Mahoneisn
triumph. We have seen the Stalwarts over
powered at Chicago and Albany and the
HalfBreeds bounced out by Arthur. And
now comes Blaine refusing to be sat down
On and snorting defantly at the gates of the
White House. He is forcing the fight on Ar.
thurs administration In the assertion of vac.
illatlon in the Western Hemisphere confed.
erative matter and thereby feeling the public
pulse to see If 1t is popular issue to raise in
the Presidential campaign. That Blaine Is
a candidate is evident; that he believes AR.
thur is, or will be, is obvious. The chal.
lenge has passed and henceforth the contest
will grow more intense. The Democratic
party Is disintegrating through factional de-
fiction; the outlook is indicative that es-
arrangement between the two wings of the
Republican party will become greater. The
issues, however, as developed between the
factions of both parties are personal rather
than political, for power rather than patriot
ism, for place rather than principle. There
Is nothing in the revolt Of Tammany, in the
policy Of the Readjusters, or in the aliena-
ton of Republicans to inscribe on party BAN
ners and advocate as national issues. Even
Blaine's someweat brilliant scheme of con-
federated South America and a protectorate
North America will not stand the test of de-
liberate judgment by the country. Thus,
while there is an evident relaxation of party
allegiance and discordant elements are ma
turing factional strength, there is not yet
proposed by either principle or policy that
will enlist the hearty sympathy of the coun-
try and rally the electors to Its standard.
And yet there is hanging over the country
a cloud whose shadow has the chill of death;
there is twining around its vitals an anaconda
power that is crushing out its life; there is
resting upon 1t an incubus that is sinking it
into the depths. Corporate power has at
tanned supremacy that threatens if 1t does
not already control every vitality of this gov
eminent. The immense capital welded by
few men, the monopolies protected by
them, the concentration of railroads into
enormous monopoly "systems !" the control
of large part of the press, of Legislatures,
of courts, of Congress it Is alleged, are evils
that grow greater daily and that, If not soon
met and repressed, will continue in aggress-
i've imposition until we will have practical
business despotism or revolution. 1t were
better for Capital that its cupidity should be
curbed and its claws cut by lawful methods
than that its possessions should become the
prey of passion. But still capital and cor
porate power will continue to be avariciously
aggressive, monopoly will be fostered, and
the ills Of this day will increase until an an
ti-monopoly party is organized. When 1t is
organized, If led by good men, it will sweep
everything before 1t, for despite the money
and manipulations Of the corporations, and
the immense vote as we'll as expression they
control, the rank and file will support it.
There may not be a breaking up of the old
parties before the next Presidential cam
paign, but there are premonitions of it, and
there is no other national issue that so stren-
uously forces itself upon the attention of the
country as the enormous, ever-reaching, des-
potic corporate power that has been built up
In the United States and that will continue
its exactions and its entertainments upon the |
people until they are led to battle against it. |
We believe II would be best for the country |
If the struggle should come now. Ever
since the Greeley campaign The real national |
issue has been whether the people would |
prefer to trust the Democratic party with its
sins or the Republican party with its sins,
and 1t is not creditable TO the former that the
latter has the greater respect of the two.
Now there Is not only opportunity but
pressing necessity for a mastering of men
against corporations. 1t is On issue that
must come and It were better 1t were raised
now. This is Roscoe Conkllngs opportunity.