New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-26
THE THIRD PARTY.

The convention Of all the cranks at st. LOUIS
closed its session by the adoption CT a singular
platf0rm. Not one voice of dissent was raised
against the long platform adopted, but in part
because the advocates of Woman Suffrage and
Of Prohibition had become disguised at their
treatment and the more prominent OF them at
least had withdrawn. As things stand abso-
lutely nothing appears in the action OF the con-
vention to satisfy the Prohibitonists, and the
question of Woman Suffrage is by separate
resolution relegated to the Legislatures of the
different States and Territories, in blissful lg-
norance of the fact that in most OF the States
no Legislature can touch the question, since the
solution depends upon their constitutions All
the other factions and fragments were placated
by the insertion of some idea or catchword in
the platform, and the convention appointed n
National Committee to act with the People
party committee in calling Presidential NOM
mating convention.
The cheap money people had things their own
way. They put into the platform the two-per-
ccnt-Sub Treasury plan, the unlimited coinage
of silver. speedy increase of currency to not less
than $50 for every man, woman and baby, a
graduated income tax, postal savings banks, ana
Government ownership of railroads, telegraphs
and telephones A resolution of empty words
was meant to please the land cranks who follow
Henry George but it distinctly proposes nothing
except the forfeiture of land held by aliens, by
corporations in excess of their actual needs
and by others for speculative purposes. 1ha
old soldiers are expected to rejoice at resol'l-
ton proposing to bankrupt the Government in
order 10 pay all of them " the difference between
the price of the deprecated money in which they
were paid and gold
The labor element in this convention had to
be satisfied with catchwords and empty phrases.
The platform contains no demand for eight hours
day, nor for any other measure which labor
organizations insist upon as necessary. The
kind of money workers are to receive for their
labor is a kind supplied without limit by the
Suh-Trcasury plan, the unlimited coinage OF
silver, and the purchase of all railroads, tele-
graphs and telephones. The Knights of Labor
who participated seem to have had little power ;
the control of the whole affair was in the hands
of the Third party Alliance men. 1t il there
fore more significant that not word appears
favorng the change of tariff, or opposing Pro-
lection, but on the contrary, the subject was
mentioned only in the assertion that the old
parties proposed to drown the outcries OF a
rlundercd people with the uproar Of sham
battle over the talif.
Amazing as the platform seems to reasonable
persons, there is yet probability that the con-
vention may exercise an important influence in
National affairs. 1t may not carry single
State, and yet may turn the scale and uninten-
tionally make the next President. The fear OF
this new organization at the South will power
fully mpel the Democrats in Congress and the
Democratic party in National conventions 10
action which will forfeit the support of sober
and conservative men. concentration Of such
men from all parties upon the Republican can
didate will render the result certain in some
doubtful Northern States, while a division Of
the Democratic vote at the South may cause the
choice Of Republican electors in some Southern
States. In the attempt TO avoid that division
the Democratic party cannot escape weakening
itself at the North and also in those portions of
the South where new industries and connection
with the material progress of the Nation have
made conservative elements relatively strong.
1t would be singular letribution if the very
force which gave to the Democratic party It's
extraordinary victory in 1890 should prove a
cause of its overwhelming defeat in 1892.