The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-07-23

L lllIduelpuId LeaSc/ dltuouSH yiSio
ing sometimes to unreasoning excite
ment, are, as a rule, exceedingly
conservative. They may for brief
while sympathize or unite with
new party that promises to correct
at once all or some political or social
evils, or that is pledged to carry out
a new policy because there is dissat-
isfaction with some established
policies or principles. But. the old
established political parties are quick
to learn from public sentiment what
errors need to be corrected and
what changes of position are render
ed necessary by changed conditions,
and they promptly strengthen them
selves by correcting wrongs and
changing positions.
The history of third parties in the
United States is simply that of fail
ure following failure, The Abolition
or Anti-Slavery party was one Of
slow growth, but it was based upon
principle so strong as to be irwin
chile. 1t sowed the seed of human
freeman, and the harvest was the
Republican party. The Prohibition
party is based upon a sincere,
earnest principle, but 1t is one with
which it is probable that nothing
like the majority will ever agree.
Though never likely to elect a
national ticket, it does good every
day of its existence by compelling
the two great parties to accomplish
legislation that regulates and res
tricts the liquor evil. The Pro-
hibitionists have done an inestimable
amount of good, the most important
part of which is to be found in the
High License laws of the several
States, N,,,>--< a. : .-----s-si - was
undoubtedfeoaas 4 .snce Coi
the Prohibition party RI aye We, With
these two exceptions third parties
have been either useless or mischiev-
| Gus.
The Anti-Masonic party of 1882;
the Know Nothing party, which had
its birth in 1854 and which attained
its full growth in 1856, when it put
National ticket in the field; the
Constitutional Union" party of
1860, which lasted during the cam
paign of that year; the Greenback
party, which in 1896 nominated
Presidential ticket, and went to
pieces after, in 1880, it made Cen
eral Weaver, the present candidate
of the Peoples party, its standard
bearer, and the Labor party, which
in 1884 chose General Butler as its
candidate for President, were all
alike merely ephemeral and without
notable achievements, even when
most vigorous In 1856 the Know
Nothings secured the electoral vote
of Maryland, and in 1860 the Con
stitutional Union" ticket got the
electoral votes of three States. Since
then no third party has won a single
electoral vote.
The real third party of the present
time is not the Prohibit on, but the
Peoples Party. AS in Kansas, for
instance, the Democracy have en-.
dorsed its electoral ticket, and, as in
some other States, they may either
formally endorse or informally
accept its ticket, in the hope of thus
throwing the election of President
into the House. In such cases the
Third Party may do better than
either of its predecessors has done
since 1860. But it can no more
displace either the Republican or
Democratic parties than a June
breeze or March cyclone could
shake down Pixies Peak. The
Peoples Party, with its platform of
political and social isms and heresies,
and ofno principles or policies which
the wise, just judgment of the country
can approve, cannot expect a long
life, tor as it is with the man so " it'll
the party, the fttest only will per
manently survive.