Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-21
The third party has come. According to Il

The third party has come. According to it,
name, ii is the peoples party, and Its princi-
ples are those Of the Farmers Alliance and the
knights Of Labor. For q while it seemed prob
able that action would be deferred until nearer
the campaign Of 1892, but the radical element
prevailed over the leading minds and the party
was born. Although the conservative infu-
ence was defeated in this matter it was success
full in resisting the impulse to graft on the
organization all the various isms and issues
that characterize the times, and in causing the
statement Of principles TO be much less wild
and contradictory than had been expected
from the incongruous elements of the conven-
ton. This may in some measure counter
balance the effect Of too early
movement 1t is significant Of a certain
preparation and cohesiveness in the
leading elements among the political
reformers who look TO the formation of third
party to remedy all public ills and private mis-
fortunes and endorsements. The subtreas-
ury scheme, the income-tax proposition, the
threatened seizure Of surplus railway lands, the
control Of railroads by the government-these
are possibly conservative ideas according to
the standards of conservatism set up by the
alliance and the knights, though other politi-
GENTLY progressive for any party planning TO
secure substantial following in this country.
Free trade is thinly yelled under periphrastic
expressions, and free and unlimited silver
coinage Is set in the foreground of the
platform This convention, although max
ing Q platform for a party does not IN
dertake to nominate its candidates. That
is q work which may be better done nearer the
time for the candidates to have a reason OF be-
ing. Some unsympathetic critics say that the
platform might we'll have been launched at the
time the crew were ready, but the new party
was evidently not formed to please such fas-
tidious people. The peoples party Is, it APP
pears q great scheme which requires to be
handled carefully in sections and put together
when everything is ready. First the seed, then
the blade then the ear. last the full corn in the
ear. In other words, fitting the agricultural
simile to the history Of the agricultural move
ment leading to the party, first the Farmers
Alliance, then the Ocals call to arms, after
ward the Cincinnati convention, and
lastly the events to come next year,
eliminating in victory or defeat. Only one
party can choose its President, but IL is posi-
BILE for the present movement by pressure Of
public sentiment to have a modicum OF success
without carrying the election. 1t is this fact
that gives the third party movement signif-
canoe in American politics. So far as practical
results in 1892 are concerned the most that the
third party men can expect is to prevent pres
idential election by the people, and to cause
the choice of q democrutic President by the
House. They may expect to carry the presi-
dental election Of 1886 Before that date both
of the old parties count upon the collapse of
the new organization. So that for the present
the democrats. from interested motives. smile
upon the movement and wish it strength and
successful least until 1892-while the republi-
cans. from equally interested motives, frown
upon it