The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-05
LOYALHOMEWORKERS
EDITORS CHAT.

ADVANTAGE OF PATTY FoLAllNSs
Will the Editor kindly answer the following
question: In what ways are political parties
benefit 10 tue country ?-Charlolte sponofu' De'e@'
To this the Editor would reply that self-goverB-
nlent h. always experimental. Never YET has per-
feotion been reached except by the Divine mau,
whose life no has yet been able 10 initiate. In
individual development when one course OF action
fails, IL il tho wise man who win abandon thai
course and try some other.
80 il is with the aggregation Of individuals, OF
which political party IL composed. Each party, II
must he presumed, 81 banded together TO achieve
that grand purpose acceutuated by Lincoln, the
Rteatest good 10 the greatest number Ane Of pol
icy is adopted which q is believed will most directly
lead to such a result and for time such policy
seems 10 be the greatest and truest. Perhaps al
the time Ii was adopted il WAS the best But times
ohnuge, aud the issues Of the times with them.
What proves a very good armor Of defense to-day
A. casl-oI rubbish the next AmeRsure Of progress
81 one Stage OF sefdevelopmert may be an OBJ
Hiace 90 advancement at another.
Sometimes n party IL banded together for the
puresl purposes aud achieves great results then
after il haas grown powerful Il is seized by selfish
and arbitrary men 10 advance their own personal
ends I'd made the tool Of all sorts OF greedy COM
bnations, which, in their own self-seuking, have
no regard for the pronunCiamenio Of q popular
Government that "Hll men are endowed by their
Creator with certain uuaienable rights, among
which life, liberty aud the pursuit OF happi-
ness." Then comes party disintegrHioni the
heaven in the lump OF free democracy begins 20
rise; the lower strata forces itself TO the top and
An the forcing process brings he upper strata down.
Then come new combinations, new issues, new
parties D. is the assertion Of the individual Of hs
right 10 be heard.
Sometimes partyis formed 10 achieve some one
definite mud specific purpose, and when that hss
been attained there il difference Of opinion 70
what new issue should be taken up. The disafieo-
Hon that arises results in new parties, with new
reforms 10 carry on. The old shell Is outgrown
and cast of aud the democratic ohTysRlis takes
new form and soRTs TO higher flights Of knowl-
edge aud principles applied.
The uses OF political parties rest largely IN the
restraining Influences they exert over each other,
thr0ugh al Of which popular interests served;
frauds exposed arrogant schemes uncovered,
tFhyRgance rebuzed, economy engendered. aud
honor and honesty rewarded.
IL b well 20 be partisan when there great
reforms 10 advance, great principles 10 defend.
But when party has outlived It's usefulness, they
are the wise adherenis who rehouuce craftsmanship
and combine organizations for the preserve
ton OF liberty and human rights
Agitation Is life and In the several political par
Ties OF the Onion rests the preservation Of freedom
and the advancement Of the Republic In al that
pertains 10 lie physical growth, the peace and hap
ptnes Of its people, and the perpetuaton OF ia
moral, educational, and reformatory institutions