The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-02-27
Only Two Parties Possible.

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Of this country two political parties
struggling for the mastery In the
nature Of things there must be two
and can be no more. That third
parties are always endeavoring to
rise into prominence and power does
not alter nor weaken the fact just
stated, since the establishment of q
new or third party can only take
place upon the dissolution Of one
or the other of the parties already
existing. Since the establishment
Of our government, it has frequently
happened that q new party has dis
placed an old one, and none except
the democratic party, has ever yet
survived the lapse of two genera
tons. Succeeding the Tory party,
as the Wing did the Federal party,
the democratic party has with
stood all of the political changes
and wrecks of nearly 90 years
and is still a recognized political
power in the land. Wherein lies
the secret of its strength? 1t is,
with all of its faults, the recognized
party of the people. Its principles,
though not always adhered to, are,
at bottom, the principles of human
liberty. Its antagonist, by what
ever name it has been called, has
stood steadfastly and all the time
for monarchy, though it has fire.
quently called itself by names sug-
gestive of devotion to human rights,
and freedom, but ever pursuing an
opposite course. The democratic
party, on the other hand, has not
always been true to its name. When
it became the champion of slavery
it ceased to be democratic; when
in the interest of capitalism, it
abandoned its opposition to nation
al banking, it again abandoned the
championship Of right and justice
as it did. also, when it permitted
itself to be inveigled into adopting
the robber policy of class legisla-
ton, giving bounties, subsidies, bo-
muses., land grants and loans to
private corporations and individu-
ais. By these acts it became the
representative of classism, and
monarchy. 1t betrayed the conf
dence reposed in it by the people
who looked to it for guidance, and
delivered them body and soul to
usurers, and such as live without
productive labor; but the magic
of its name and the history of its
past achievements have so far pre-
served it from destruction. What
the future will bring forth we shall
see. The power of the classes is
growing, the masses are weakening.
Abuses are multiplying. Popular
alarm is spreading. Even now a
body Of men are in session at st.
Louis whose purpose it is to form
a new party. They are strong men,
men of experience, men who have
felt the hand of power. Their de-
mands are rational. Their princi-
Piles enlightened, just. They will
go before the people next fall with
a platform that will command the
respect of every intelligent and pat
riotic man in the country, if their
wisest heads are permitted to direct
their action. The republican party
will cling to its old policy, the pol
icy that drove the colossus of abo-
litionism-Wendell Phillips-from
it's ranks. 1t must do this because
its life hangs upon the friendship
Of the monied classes, whom it has
made and sustains. Will the dem
cratic party be wiser? Will it heed
the appeals of the toiling masses
for help, and thus save itself from
dissolution, or will it, forgetting its
duty to these, continue its aid in
unfolding the arm that is shifting
them to death?
If at the Chicago convention next
June, the party shirks any part of
its duty the knell of its doom is
already sounded for the tide of
reform has set in and will not much
longer be stayed by either fraud or
bribery, without bloodshed, and the
latter will not be. A people with
ballots in their hands are invincible
when they learn how to use them,
and our people are learning it rap
idly. The cohorts of monarchism
consolidated in the republican party
will cleave to their old gods-the
corporations, the trusts, the taxa
alton of the many for the few. The
democratic party must take the
opposite of this, or die to make
room for the Alliance Labor party.
This is written in the book of fate
not this year, perhaps: but if not,
hen four years hence.
The Statesman says ''the small
noinori%v NJ visionary froo traders