The Washington critic., 1886-10-08
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER s, 1886
POLITICS IN TRANSIT.


Several eminent editors, statesmen
and philosophers have already risen to
remark that the present Is transition
period in American politics, which we
understand to mean that new issues,
which both Of the great national or
sanizatlons seem rather shy Of, are
rapidly tending TO the origlnation of
new parties; and many people whose
allegiance to the Democratic or Repub-
lican faith has heretofore partaken of
the nature of religious zeal, are becom.
ing more and more disposed to aban-
don a fellowship which has lost its
vitality and form affiliations of their
own that shall inteligen,ly compre-
hend and energctically grasp the living
questions of the day.
The transition progresses slowly and
the old parties still maintain their lines
unbroken. At least there is no such
evidence of their disintegration as to
warrant the belief that either one or
the other will speedily disband. But
1t is impossible that the movements
now going on shall be without their
influence. They are formidable in
numbers, and must some day become
formidable in effect, as the process of
combination and discipline continues.
1t is useless to deny that the Prohibit
tionists are q power; it Is reasonably
TO be expected that the Labor Reform
ers will shortly develop great political
strength. The nomination of Henry
George for Mayor of New York has in
II the elements of revolution; though
the revolution may be for the time be.
Ing avcrted But all these things dis
close the existence of factors in the
politics of the country that only few
years ago were unknown and that
threaten the precipitation of issues for
which the Republican and Democratic
parties must be much better prepared
than they now are, If they would avoid
going to pieces ultimately on the rocks
and shoals of dead past.
But there is one feature of this trans
itional period that is peculiarly graft.
flying to every patriotic lover of our
civil institutions. Whatever is pro-
posed to be done in the direction of re.
form, whether it be the improvement,
elevation and better protection of the
workingmen, or the inhibition of the
liquor traffic, or its regulation under
ligorous conditions, is to be done by
the ballot-that powerful and peaceful
weapon by which public sentiment con.
quers its own. Even in the canvass of
Henry George for the highest Office in
the gift of the people of the city of
New York. visionary aud impractica
BILE as some of the candidate $ ideas are,
and bearing even socialistic construc-
tion, there are discovcrable no traces of
a disposition to attain results outside OF
the beaten pathways Of the law.
The propagandists of Communism
and Socialism are reckoning without
their host when they attribute to
American sci susceptibility to the
growth and nurture of their un.Ameri-
can theories. II there Is one thing
better asCertained than another in this
country 1t is the loyalty of the people
to the principles of the Constitution
under which they live and their un-
compromising antagonism to violent
and revolutionary methods. There are
exceptions, but they only serve to bring
out in bolder relief the answering de.
yotion of the masses to law and order.
Hence we may, as citizens, look with
nnconcern upon the political evolu-
tions and involutions of the day. They
may seriously disturb the calculations
of the politicians, and even upset the
foundations of parties that have grown
venerable with age, but they do not
threaten the peace of society. They
may embody errors and run to seem.
ingly dangerous extremes, but, so long
as the great heart of the people remains
nncorrupted and Its intelligence evenly
balanced, the stability of the Gov
eminent is assured against all forms of
conspiracy, insubordnation to statutes,
or treason to the old flag.
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