Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
THE LESSONS or THE. ELECTIONS.
Varied Reasons Given for Republican De-
feat-Why Political Parties Exist and
How an End Might be Put TO Them-A
n.-.a n.;.osuYa Needed.

| ID0L-"ny
How nm End Might be Put to Them-A
Grand Principle Needed.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATcH.1
WASHINGTON. d. c., November S.-The
elections are past, they resulted as you know;
Republicans are gloomy, the Democrats are
jubilant.
Everybody here Is trying to find out the rea-
son. We are o congregation of politicians. We
talk more politics than any other people in the
country. The air is saturated with It. Grab
up handful of atmosphere anywhere in the
district. and you can squeeze politics from it in
great drippings, as you do water from sponge.
From the highest official to the smallest and
blackest pickaninny, therefore, we are trying
to find out why, SO soon after the remarkable
victory of last fall the country witnesses what
is practically defeat for the Republicans.
The opinions are as variegated as the popu-
Iation. The colored people think the Water
Loo is because the President has been trying
to build up a Republican white mans party in
the South The disappointed politicians are
sure it is because the President has not been
vigorous enough in the work Of turning the
Democratic rascals ont. The temperance ex-
tremists say it is because the grand old party
has not been virtuous enough on the temper
ance question, and the anti-prohIbitionists are
equally satisfied that the result is on account
of the party having firted TOO familiarly with
the fanatics.
So it goes through the gamut of the factions.
Each has its reason, which is perfectly salts
factory to itself
The Political Philosophers Opportunity.
Now here is where the political philosopher
gets in his work-that supreme and serene in
dividual who rises above all parties and goes
deep below the surface of things, and attempts
to get the simple truth. You can't get the
whole truth from partisan or a person with
single idea. To the negro the question OF the
rights and wrongs Of his race is all-importsut.
To the temperance advocate every odor in the
world is mingled with that of whisky. The
granger spies monopoly in every fence
corner. Beer and the liberty to spend
Sunday according to the suggestions of his own
conscience instead of the conscience of the
worshipers of Calvin and Wesley, is the para
mount question with the Germans and other
foreigners. The philosopher who looks upon
the world as being made up of women and
fools, and political parties as being composed
OF demagogueS and lgnoramuses, and who
views ali things coolly and cynicalIy, finds all
of the above reasons to be factors in the result
of Tuesday and vast deal more beside them.
What is the reason for the existence of parties
at all2
1t is because men and women cannot agree as
to what is best for them
1t Is not on account of any radical disagree
ment as to what is proper and right, but as to
what Is best from the selfish standpoint that all
are forced to occupy on account Of the selfish,
grasping system under which we live.
How TO Abolish Parties.
If every one would take this stand on what is
simply and plainly right from a moral point of
view, there would soon be an end of all parties,
because the ideas of the people of any country
as to what is morally right are SO nearly alike
that there would be little dispute.
Under a wholly intelligent and reasonable
system Of government there would be no neces-
sity for wrOnging q portion of the people for
the benefit of the remainder. It IS because of
false internal systems that tariffs for protec-
tiOn are necessary. Nobody whose opin-
ion is worth anything questions the right
of the colored people, or human beings of any
kind, to the same privileges and immunities en-
joyed by any other human beings Ignorance
and prejudice. twin qualities, declare against
the negro, regardless of the plain question of
right. Drinking of beverages Of a kind and
in manner not injurious to the
body or mind is not morally wrong and there
fore it is not right for the temperance people
to say that such beverages shall not be sold or
any day of the week is not morally wrong for
the Sabbath It cannot be wrong to do on Sun
day what is morally right, and therefore legfs-
that dsy ~ what Is morally TiSht is V WrOnS ug IL it
self, and cannot be maintained except by force,
The greatest religious organization the world
has ever seen is that which gives the highest
Liberty Of Individual Action
outside of the mere tenets of the church. The
most Catholic countries are the most liberal in /
their observance of Sunday, and no good Cath
olic thinks it wrong to do thing that is not bad
in itself on Sunday more than on any other day
of the week.
But the advocates of these single ideas are
numerous, and when party votes are close they
hold the balance Of power, and so one party
and the other fllrts with them. and as go their
whims so 90 the parties. It is not matter of
principle with the leaders Of the parties, but a
mere demagogic question Of success. This
plowing with the heifers not only OF the Philis-
tines, but with the heifers OF all sects and
races and creeds, must bring any party into
contempt disgust its adherents and hold them
to it merely because there is nothing better in
the way Of party, and because, among its
things, it has more good qualities
than any other party.
1t seems to. me that both parties. or all
parties, are in want of a grand principle upon
which to take stand and challenge the admir-
alton and the votes of the people; something
that will so appeal to mems sense of justice
that 1t cannot be withstOod by anyone in his
right mind. Each party wants something that
soldiers who could not have been induced to 90
to the war to fight for that intangible thing |
called the "Union," were attracted to the terri
BILE march, the hardships OF the tented HELD |
the roar and murder of battle, because they |
thought they were freeing the slave with every |
step they took and every shot they fired.
Heroic Principles Needed.
Is there not something left as heroic as that,
as full of divine sentiment, which would appeal |
to the hearts of even the narrow and the mean?
How it would have gone ringing round the |
world if President Harrison, instead of trying |
to build up white mans Republican party in |
the South, had sworn great oath that he |
would give the four years Of his administration |
to compelling the Southern people, at the point |
of the bayonet, if need be. to grant to the ut |
most all the privileges of citizens to the black |
men and women freed at such great cost?
What a grand boom it would give TO that |
party which would declare not in vague and |
hypocritical terms its sympathy with the work. |
ing people of the country, but in clear and nm
language for measures which would /
result in the relief Of the wage |
workers. Nothing could have a sweeter per- |
fume to the heroic than that, and that party |
which shall be bold enough 70 announce such /
principle. and show that it would make it
operative, would be invincible for long years to
come. Too many things are demanded for the
future to make it safe for any party to attempt |
to live on the past. Some grand, striking. new
departure is necessary. Have either OF the
old parties the virtue and morality. the brains
and the bravery, to step to the frontf