Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-16

as there are between the civil service re-
/ former and the spokesman. The gulf that
| exists between the Mugwump and thick
and-thin partisan is not less broad than that
which separates the protectionist from the
| free trader. The same Independence OF
| political thought and action which prompts
men to break away from Democracy and
| Republicanism prompts them to keep aloof
| from other political organizations with
whose cardinal principles they also disagree.
| Men with courage enough to sever old party
ties do not join another organization be-
cause the latter is opposed to what they left,
but because it represents principle which
they consider of more Importance than the
principles OF the organization they have de-
serted. For this reason the various minor
political subdivisions of our public are
naturally composed of the most courageous,
| hopeful obstinate, uncompromising patriots,
purblind theorists and independent political
thinkers to be found in the American body
polite The man who votes a minority
ticket from 21 till death from old age is not
to be despised though he uselessly sacrifices
his political entity for principle.
There are tens of thousands of voters who
regularly vote the Prohibition ticket with
out the slightest expectation or hope that
are the examples of modern political inde
pendence. 1t is the courage and obstinacy
which underlie the actions of these practi-
cal dissenters that prevent the concentra-
tion of the same in one political body under
the banner of a third party.
Idealists Who Tackle the Wrong End.
The knowledge of these conditions does
not appear to disturb those eminent gentle
men who are solemnly discussing and Gre
solving third party. Not at all. In
trenched behind the moss-covered redoubts
of their own political idealitv they appar-
emily view the outside world through re-
versed glasses 1t is a small and
insignificant affair. Practically, they
know little or nothing about
it. In the serene confidence of their OWE
high grade intellectually and purity of
motives they willingly waive the rest of the
world. They are not in touch with it. They
recoil in mild horror at the idea of march
ing abreast with the human froth and scum
and dregs in political affairs. They do not
grasp the social conditions. They do not
wish to grasp the social conditions because
in doing SO they would get their. hands
dirty.
The political purst abominates the ''prac-
teal politician. Now the practical poll
tician" is in touch with the world and makes
use of it as he finds it, without worrying be-
cause it isn't better. The political purist,
generally speaking, is not elb0wing the
common herd and knows very little about
it-his plane of operations, therefore, Is
wholly above the grasp of those
whose support is necessary to
render those operations successful
We look upon him and his efforts in meas
ure as we look upon the Socialist and his
ism-as an idealist, the successful applica-
tion of whose principles to ordinary polit-
ical and social life depends upon the entire
remodeling of human nature and the COM
plete revolution of existing social condi-
tions. To accomplish substantial results all
reformers should unquestionably begin at
the other end.
Must Stick Close TO the People.
AS a theorist of my own political reform
school, allow me to express the opinion, in
conclusion, that the most substantial and
practical political and social results are to
be obtained by sticking close to the people
as mass, forming part and parcel Of the
real everyday world, and assisting and
guiding governing mankind in the direction
of the higher and nobler planes of human
action. No holy man ever made the world
better by going off and living by himself.
In the same sense no political reformer
ever reforms anything by cutting loose from
those who are to be reformed and who pos
sess the powers of reformation. He simply
and effectnally destroys his own influence
in order to attain the desired results. Stick
close TO the moving masses. Keep elbow
to elbow with the common people. Accept
the world as it is as your solid ground
The most corrupt and notoriously immoral
practical politician" sets you an example.
By strict observance of these rules
of action he can accomplish more in a single
campaign than you can accomplish in life
time. 1t is the secret of his personal
power and political autocracy. If you
would successfully dispute control with
him vou must get close to the people and
enthuse them with your better and higher
ideas.
Attack political evils at their source 1t
does no good to stand off and rail at him
begin reform with those who make him.
When the people demand something better
and somebody purer he will supply the de-
Inand without extraneous influences. The
soldier who wants to fight keeps to
the front with the real contesting
forces-he doesn't get mad and fail
out of the ranks with the stragglers and try
to get little army OF his own. This is
meant in a broad and liberal sense. 1t
doesn't mean bigoted partisanship,
straight ticket, a thick-and-thin party man
but to be always with the effective fight
ing forces, one way or another, and ALWAYS
with the people and of them. That is my
theory. I'll back it for practical results
against all the factional issues that have
been born within the last quarter of CEN
tury, or that are to be visited upon us in the !
next CHARLES THEODORE MURRAY