The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-05-27
Born--.A New Party.

A birth in the political family is al
ways an event of interest. The advent
of the third party at Cincinnati on
Wednesday therefore calls for more or
less honorable mention. That an in
FAINT brought forth under the combined
auspices of Ignatius Donnelly and Gen
eral Weaver is destined to gaudy and
peculiar career need not, perhaps, be
predicted. 1t is one of those PROPOSE
lions that go without saying. But as
Mr.. Donnely and Weaver were not en-
tirely alone in the affair, it may be well
to consider the other influences at work
and attempt some estimate of their con-
glomerate value as vital energies. So
far as we are able to analyze the dec
laralion of principles by the conven-
ton, the proposed party is to consist
of the farmers alliance, the labor or
CARNATIONS, the socialists, the free
coinage advocates, the iucome-tax dis
ciples, the woman snffragists, the
Know Nothings, the free traders, and
the reformers generally. But for the
earnest and painstaking bounce admin
istered to Delegate Miller of Califor-
MIA, we should have had teetotalers
also in the combination, and that would
have left no one on the outside except
John Most and Lucy Parsons. The
convention, however, seemed to think
that it had enough special features in
its programme, and accordingly shut
down on Miller with a vigor which
must have made him thirsty.
There are some difficulties in the way
of this interesting infant, perhaps;
hat 60 Il Al
thusiastic Donnelly nor the wrapt and
imprisoned Weaver. The democratic
party is already the advocate of free
coinage, free trade and unlimited
whiskey. The republican party has al
ready declared itself as the champion
of the agricultural, the laboring and
the manufacturing classes, and has il
lustrated its claim to that title by legisla-
ton which is now making profound
impression upon the country. The
new party is thus left with little beyond
the sub-treasury and the fat-money,
and the know-nothing vagaries, upon
which it may draw with any large re-
suits; and even this prospect is dark
ened by the probability that the de-
mocracy will eventually take all three
into that yearning stomach which has
never yet experienced the pang of in
digestion.
We would not, however, sprinkle one
drop of chilling water upon this halcyon
occasion. Rather, much rather, would
we wait for further and still more in
teresting developments. Nothing has
been heard as yet from Jerry Simpson,
or, indeed, from Calamity Weller, nor
has the hirsute PETER himself spoken
except with gavel and a splintered
desk. 1t is hardly worth while to close
a jamboree from which all these power
full elements have been omitted. The
proposition to establish sub-treasuries
in all the agricultural districts, where
the frugral and far-seeing farmer may
borrow money at two per cent by the
simple process of throwing a load of
wood into the back yard or sliding
barrel of peanuts down the cellar
stairs-this proposition, we say, long
since lost the charm of novelty. 1t is
useless for Mr.. Donnelly to try to mis-
lead us by speaking of " non-perishable
products" There are no such things
in agriculture. The only absolutely in
destructible articles we have ever seen
in the rural districts are the rhubarb
pie of New Hampshire and the brindled
jackass of Mississippi, and neither of
these would be negotiable. The sub
treasury plan contemplates the indeti-
mite borrowing of money upon water
melons, roasting ears and gooseberres,
aud, consequently, the unlimited manu-.
facture of paper money to meet the
demand. But, as we have said, this is
not new. The principle involved has
been advocated for centuries, and, even
within our own recollection, by such
financiers as Mr.. Harold Skimpole and
Mr.. wilkins Micawber. The country
is not to be put off with this 1t is
waiting for the leaders of the new party
to get together in real earnest and be-
gin the work of formulating its philoso-
ply. 1t wants to hear what Mrs. Lease
has to say about her somewhat nebuar
hypothesis of government. 1t wants
to hear Mr.. Jerry Simpsons later view
on hosiery. 1t wants Mr.. Donnelly to
apply his Baconian theory to the aver
age northwestern smoke-house. 1t
wants General Weaver to tell us why
Mr.. Bland has been ignored in he deal
and left to pine neglected in the hoop
pole jungles of his native state. And
finally, it wants the Hon. Calamity We'll
Ter to come forward and spill into the
appetizing potpourri the sad but potent
relish of his choicest tears.
The country does not often get tail
hold on so good thing as this right on
the brink of an otherwise unpromsing
summer. Earnestly and prayerfully
would we " work it for all that it is
worth. "-Ne,0 York Tribune.