The advocate., 1890-07-23
COMPR0MIsR IN mn ALLlANCE

scomfully treated as one Of weakness,
and when resorted to, merely means Of
temporizing. To me, however, il has an
entirely different aspect, for although on
any disputed question there can be but
one position Of absolute right and justice,
yet that position will be oitoner found tu
be between the contendlng parties than
at either extreme. And thus when a
compromise is reached II is in all prOba
bility nearer the right than the attain
ment Of the full demands Of either side
would have been and consequently, rest
ing more nearly on foundation OF truth
and justice, Is the most permanent form
Of settlement; but II the principle MAORI
ty rule be strictly adhered 70, the fact
will soon become noticeable that majori-
ties are constantly changing on many
questions, both local and national, the
conditions Of which remaining unchanged
the position Of right in such a case must
be- ever the same These facts, have
reason to believe, are recognized more
fully by the labor organizations OF to-day
than they ever have been by deliberative
bodies of any kind In the past And the
great value and necessity Of compromise
has never been more clearly illustrated
than it is at the present time in It's appli-
cation 10 the affairs of the alliance and
kindred orders, notably, for instance, In
regard TO the question Of politics. There
is ut present, as never before in the his
tory Of the nation, general breaking Of
old political ties by the producing classes
Of our people. This disintegrating Of the
old parties is certainly as it should be,
for whatever may have been the record
in the distant past, and whatever may
be their avowed principles At the present
time, 1t Is evident TO any intelligent per
son that il is as useless TO look for any
good Of any kind for the masses OF the
people, from either Of the present politi-
cal parties rs IL would DO TO attempt TO
extract sugar from the ashes Of maple
tree. Thinking men are therefore steadi-
ly and swiftly coming out Of the parties
and taking their stand with the friends
Of reform. Nevertheless to a certain OK
tent at least, as II is but natural they
should, they are bringing with them their
old and long cherished political beliefs.
And as the various reform organizations
which must II they ever accomplish
anything worthy Of note nationally, do
so by and through political action-have
at present no definite position on many
national issues. Thepresent condition In
these various orders seems to be one OF
u general free and perfectly untrammeled
interchange of thought in regard to these
disputed questions, each individual
brother holding himself liable TO convic-
tion as to the error Of his previous senti-
ments. ...
There are no fierce, fiery debates, for
the reason that sensible men know that
no benefit can result TO anyone from
bursts Of eloquence or ploadingst Of rhe-
toric. Calm, deliberative consultation
and counsel is the order Of the day. In
this condition OF affairs, as the brothers
are undoubtedly honest, sufficient time
for strictly non-partisan, unprejudiCed
education is all that is necessary. But
let us educate as rapidly as possible; let
us endeavor to all reach a common posi-