Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-06
PRESENT DAY, ISSUES.
Political Parties, Their Uses and
Occasional Abuses.
ORGANIZATION Is TOO PERFECT.
Party Welfare Sometimes Becomes Superior
to That of Country.
NEED OF THE INDEPENDENT VOTER
Lv.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH. !

Since the formation of the American
Union there have existed powerful political
parties aiming to control the administra-
tion of government for various ends and
purposes which they profess to respect.
These parties differ in many particulars
from similar parties in England. They
have not proceeded upon the idea that op-
position is always healthy restraint upon
the party in power so much as upon the
strength of popular movement to secure
specific ends We have no such thing as
"Her Majesty's Opposition" but it is safe
to say that, as there has been, so there will
always be, opposition to the party In power
for one cause or another.
There is no doubt, however, of the utility
OF that restraint upon those entrusted with
the management of government which is
derived merely from the knowledge that
thev are under the fiery criticism of An or
ganized body of the people who have no
more noble object than putting those in
power out and themselves in. Frequently
political contests amount to little more than
this strife between the outs ano ins. but on
the other hand there have been many occa-
sions in the history of the country when
something better has been the issue.
If anything is done in political life
whether for good or for i'll, it must be ac-
complished through organization. Occa-
sionally the enthusiasm of a large number
Of people is concentrated upon some par
tcular object and a spontaneous movement
takes place which requires very little or
ganized effort to sustain. But more fire.
quentlv particular measures and ends are
developed only through lines of policy
which must be pursued for a considerable
period of time and the significance and
value of which are only understood by Or
ganized agitation: hence in the creation of
political parties the principle of co-opera-
salutary and even necessary to political
existence,
Platforms and Leaders.
We are not, however, able to Judge of the
value of particular organizations wholly by
the ends they propose to themselves, for ac-
count must always be taken of the personal
factors making up the means the society has
for accomplishing its ends. This is almost
always lost to the sight of those who are
enthusiastic over cooperation sas a method
Of achieving results However admirable
the platform OF a party may be, its success
and supremacy may be wholly vicious, and
frought with danger TO the common veal,
unless its controlling sentiments are those
which the moral law approves. This
means that the controlling sentiments of
tie individual members of the party who
govern it shall be righteous
One great trouble is, then. that those who
compose the party are too often actuated by
their own selfish purposes and are .using the
party only as means Tor their unpatrlotlc
ends When this is the case principles are
lost sight of and the party is very apt to be-
come a body in which counter-interests are
adjusted and balanced with each other, and
the preservation of an equilibrium between
these different interests becomes practically
tho main thing to be sought. In such case,
however good the principles of the party
msv be, they are even ignored in practice or
are not supported with that degree of force
which is necessary for success. Everything
is done timidly, and the platform is pre-
served for show purposes, while the activity
of the organization is very little directed
toward putting in practice the principles
professed.
In close connection with this arises
another evil which is, that from the neces-
sity of keeping the party compact for the
purposes of victory, the ideal of the party
as means to a higher end is lost sight of
and it becomes simply an end in itself; the
success of the party takes precedence of the
welfare of the country. This feeling is in
tensifed by the competition of the oppos-
ing parties and it is found that the political
army must he like the militant, thoroughly
we'll trained. despotically governed and
composed of the men who are willing to act
ilhout asking the reason why. This is
dangerous condition for the State. This is
a case of excessive confidence in the CO.
operative idea; but in order to make the CO.
operation complete and effective men elm
mate that which alone makes cooperative
valuable. They take away that real unity
of thought and feeling which creates an or
Callic constructive force and get in place OF
it blind destructive force TO be welded by
few in modes that these few determine.
When Partisanship Is Bitter.
Both upon the leaders and upon the rank
and file of the organization this sort of SEN
tilnent is thoroughly demoralizing. The
latter come to regard LOYALTY TO the party
as the test of the full performance of the
duties of the citizen. They allow their
chiefs to do their thinking for them. They
vote unblushingly again1 their own better
Judgment if they have ideas of their own
They believe indefinitely and without re-
fection that ruin will be wrought if the
other party prevail They decline to see
the faults of their own side. Theirs to
obey, to follow. The country, the State is
strangers. Within is celestial beauty:
without is darkness, bowling and gnashing
OF teeth.
Upon the leaders there is the pres
sure of responsibility for the direction if
they are personally honest. They plan to
defeat the other side. That is the obiec-
tive point, the chief end. They must gov
ern their movements accordingly. They
must say enough to satisfy the most, and as
little as possible to offend. GeneraIites in
principles. therefore, commend themselves,
because they are easily evaded, and anv one
can put his own Interpretation upon them
Personal favors must be shown to prevent
desertion; the enemy must be watched aud
every lapse taken advantage Of the idea of
possible good TO the whole from the success
of the other side is absolutely excluded. To
preserve the organization and win success
for it is the prime consideration for the
chiefs if they expect to maintain their rank
as leaders and obtain the emoluments of
party success.
Too Much Hypocrisy.
In addition to this there is often afforded
the very best opportunity for positive ven
ality and corruption. 1t is important TO
retain the services of good party worker
even if he be a thief, and enriching himself
at the expense of the people. The tempta-
tion to blink at this vice is very powerful.
And the closeness compactness and disci-
pine of the party present great induce
ments for venal persons Of all sorts to enter
in. They know how to make themselves of
consequence, and as they rise in the ranks
their chances Of plunder or private profit,
indirectly gained, are increased. As their
power is enlarged they shape the whole pol
icy OF the party with a view to personal
profit. It is difficult for those more honest
20 restrain them, because to do so viii pro-