Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-12-13
THE PROPOSED THIRD PARTY.

1t is proposed at Ocala by MEM
bers of the Citizens Alliance, acting
under the impulse of Kansas dele
gates, that there shall be formed "a
third party" through which all in
dustrial organizations occupying
common ground may give political
effect to their views. The Farmers
Alliance, the Farmers Mutual Bene-
fit Association, the Citizens Alli-
ance and the Knights of Labor are
at present, it is urged, without an
instrument with which to achieve
their ends. Possessing great pow
ers, they see their powers wasted for
want of methodic direction. There
is needed, therefore, it is said, a
party organization, with party ma
chinery, and these may be supplied
by conference held at Cincinnati
on February 90, 1891. At present
it is sought to get the alliance coun.
Gil in session at Ocala to officially
endorse, or initiate, the third party
movement, but, failing in this, it will
be deemed sufficient if the delegates
endorse it as individuals. The plat
form suggested for the new party by
its friends is to embrace the princi-
Piles of the St. Louis agreement of
1889, and, in addition, certain ideas
bot fully defned-about money,
railroads, labor and land. Such a
party, with such a platform, will I'M
doubtedly, say its friends, sweep the
country in 1892, electing an alliance
man to the presidency, capturing
Congress and playing havoc gener-
ally with the two older parties. 1t
is to be noted, however, that the su-
preme council of the Farmers AL.
lance and Industrial Union is rath-
er indisposed at present to be drawn
into third party movement. The
successes of the alliance hitherto
have been won chiefly through its in
fiuenoe within the old parties. 1t
has effected most where it has cap
tured the existing party machinery
of the republicans, or of the demo-
Gratis, as the case might be, and used
it to dictate nominations and to con-
troll thus the voting of non-alliance
men. By voting here and there for
nominees pledged to the farmers in
terests it has given a powerful and
much-needed impulse to the cause of
economic reform. The majority of
l53 in the next house for lower taxa
ton is ample proof of the educative
value of the agitation now in pro.
gress. 1t may, accordingly, be deem
ed by the alliance leaders unwise to
lose themselves in third party. 1t
may not be expedient to subject an
organization created for a special
purpose to the exigencies of politi-
cal party of any kind. In a third
party, the alliance, being a minority
might see its ideas ruthlessly set
aside, whereas, while maintaining its
own individuality it will continue its
invaluable work in its own way. The
history of third parties in this coun-
try, moreover, is not reassuring.
The logic of facts is against the con-
tinued existence of any but two great
parties We have had an American
party, which vanished after meteor
ic show of strength. We have had
also greenback party, a greenback-
labor party and granger party. In
Virginia for time there was a re-
adjuster party, but its fate, like that
of all third parties here enumerated,
was to be absorbed into one or the
other of the two parties that differ
fundamentally in the views held as
to the nature of the federal govern
ment. Third parties are sometimes
promoted by shrewd wire-pullers of
the older parties for particular pur-
poses. Is the third party movement
now suggested genuine movement
or is it device of politicians of the
Bosses school to divide and con-
querY This will have to be consid-
cred by the alliance. The tricksters
do not think 1890 Too early a date
for preparations for the game of