The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-09-23
A New Party Not Needed.

A New Party Not Needed.
A reconstruction of political parties
has often been predicted within the
past five years, but the prediction has
as often failed. Hdrper's Weekly is
now much more of democratic than ~
republican journal, but as it evidently
entertains some distrust of the admin
istration in relation to certain " re-
forms " that it zealously advocates, it
occasionally throws out vague hints
about party reconstruction and the for
nation of a new party. That journal
has held, for some months past, that the
old issues of the republican party are
all settled and buried, and in particular
that protection of American industries
is an Anticipated humbug and delu-
sion: but the fact that the same ideas
are entertained by the democratic
party, shows that of themselves they
will not furnish substantial platform
for new party. The only radical
DOlul VI tllltlClltC DtINCCll iIWI POI .
Weekly and the democracy at the pres
ent time would seem to be upon the
single question of civil service reform.
The supposition that any consider
able number of the four million eight
hundred thousand persons who voted
for Mr.. Blaine last year, or the nearly
five millions who voted for Mr.. Cleve-
land, are demanding a reconstruction of
parties, or the creation of new party,
is wholly visionary. 1t seems to be
easy for men who have become dissat-
isfied with their party, or who are wan
dering outside of the party lines, to
imagine that the times are ripe for a
revolution in parties, and that the
party is doomed to disintegration I'M
less it adopts the peculiar tenets of the
professional reformers. But they are
unable to present any principle or issue
that takes strong hold on popular
sentiment. Their claims that their
theories and notions are in the line of
progress or reform are not to be ac-
cepted without the fullest considera-
ton of their merits. New parties
spring out of the agitation of primary
ideas, and the obstacles in the way of
their creation may be discovered in the
fact that in the whole history of the
United States there have been only four
political parties of Importance enough
to contend seriously for the control of
the government. We are unable to
see that the restless political spirits
who are interested in the formation of
new party are proposing any princi-
pie or policy that is not already con-
tanned in the declared principles and
policies of one or the other of the ex-
listing political organizations. The re-
publican party can still present enough
of vital public issues to justify its con-
tinued existence. The party now in
control of the national administration
is not likely to break up at the bidding
of any small outside faction, though
ultimately it may be ruined by internal
discussions or by its disposition to gov
ern the country in direct and open an
tagonism to the interests of the people.
The present political signs indicate
that healthy, alert, effective opposi-
ton to the party in power is going to
be great public necessity. This OPP
position cannot be directed by fac
ton that commands but a few score
thousand votes. The mugwump is
abroad in the land, but his voice is not a
potent one, and there is not enough of
his kind to form new political organi.
cation that would amount to ANYTHING
as an opposition party. But the repub
lican party is equal to the emergency.
While it is still able to present definite
principles and purposes as its basis OF
action to contend with the democratic
party for the mastery of national af
fairs, republicans at least have NJ
reason to encourage the formation of a
new party. When readiustment Of
parties is found imperative, it will be
upon measures, not men; upon prin
ciples, not grievances.