The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-05-30
THE PROPOSED THIRD PARTY.

THE PROPOSED THIRD PARTY.
The New York Press thinks the
proposed third party will die a pre-
mature death. and following is the
way il is criticised by that ably ed
tied and great newspaper:
In the platform enumerated at Gin
cinnati we look in vain for the asser-
ton of a single great principle upon
which 10 found II new party. Pro-
lection as Il sound policy of govern
mcnt. which is the key of Republican,
ism. is ignored on the one hand. and
free trade. which is the Democratic
theory. is disregarded on the other.
The issue of tariff. on which the coun-
try is divided as the problem of the
century. and which is almost univers-
ally recognized as the present over
whelmingly vital question of national
policy, is virtually pronounced OF no
account whatever to the Ameri can
people. This deliberate shutting of
eyes TO the dominent and ruling sub
ject of political discussion and differ
cnce practically settles the fate OF the
third party movement. Timely or
untimely dissolution awaits it. While
the craze of the hour is on. the Pco-
PIES party may disturb the relations
of the two existing national parties
to each other. but that it will become
a factor in national government is
next to impossible. for the reason that
1t presents no principle or doctrine AT
issue that ran by any means super
sede the tariff.
The platform demands are a cur
ou>Iy blended mixture of socialism.
agrarlani>m. patcrual government and
popular sovereignty, atrhdc conglonl-
Grafton. of which aclo>c consideration
will confound the very men WHO
helped to frame it. The central feat
ure is the sub-treasury plan, TO make
the government Il bank. where the
people ran secure irredccmable cur
rency at , per. cent. per annum uIoa
nOn-pcrishable products. and also
upon real estate. with proper limita
lions upon the quantity of land and
the amount of money If the Green
hackers and socialists who were
prominent in the convention should
by any chance become possessed of
federal power and their ideas of
proper limitations" go into effect.
there are scarcely printing presses
enough in existence TO supply the
legal tender notes they would issue
under this plank. As if TO put their
pet plan for the creation of money i'll
dismal light. the next declaration is
for 'thc free coinage ofsilvcr." There
will be no need of silver or of gold. if
flat money is used under the sub
treasury plan. but the contradiction
seems not to have occurred to these
amateur platform makers.
Aside from these two features.
platitudes comprise the remainder of
the principles" on which the new
party is to seek political power. The
wants" aud demands in reference
to honest government. equal rights.
just taxation and limitation of revc-
nucs 10 the expenses of the govern
ment are such rs both the Republican
and the Democratic parties now all
vOcate, and as are sought through
those parties by the supporters ofthr
two organizations. There is not the
least eason TO bcliye that the dis
cOrdant elements which cungregatcd
in the Queen City could advance re-
form i'll these particulars. whereas
Whatsoever one of the old parties
administers public affairs at Wash
ingtOn is forced to be prudent, just
and economical through the knOwl-
edge that its acts are subjected to the
close scrutiny of the people and the
menacing strength of a powerful
minority.
With no sound reason for its exist
ancc, with a demonstrated lack of
any principle for its formation. and
with its agrarian and socialisiic ten
denotes, the proposed third party
movement cannot. in the nature OF
things in popular government, long
survive its first platform. II may cx-
list until after the Presidential election,
but it is quite as likely to break in
pieces before that event. y year is
an age TO a third party
Mechanical Wonder.
The Decoration Day issue of the
Albany, n. Y, Telegram will he the
most original. unique aud popular