The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-25

ORGANISATION. nor Hos>Ism.
When Ruskin was ut his best and his
whole mind turned 90 reforms which
embraced not only art and morals, but
politics os wei. le wrote that "Mon
ouly scaio n parties 10y sacrificing
their opinions or by having none worth
sacrificing. and the effect % party gov
eminent is always Co develop hostiiities
and hypocricies and extinguish ideas"
q sentiment far too sweeping, it will ap-
rear 90 most men, a doctrine not with
out some foundation, but surely not a
conclusion justified boy the facts. An
Gent as We'll as modern government has
been always one Of party. History gives
US no account Of any despotism SO Sc
we're as 90 absolutely destroy hostility
kept alive by party. The rise and fall
of nations. the political commissions OF
an ages have simply teen the markers
o. party ascendancy and tho registrars
Of factlonnl decay. For d reason which
the student Of biology OF the professor
OF psychology could doubtless present
very clearly, mankind never moves for
ward m political affairs except in bodies;
and no idea connected with human gov
eminent has ever made substantial, ef-
foctivo Roadway until there was orys.
talzed behind il the support Of num-
bers. united with the energy OF party.
As no complicated business 10 life
whether il be that Of commerce. trade,
manufacture OF religion, has ever been
independent and successful without the
aid Of machinery, We can hardly expect
90 see practical government conducted
without the same helps; for orgauiza-
tion is the very first requisite to sue
cessful action. We must accept there
fore, the axiom that in all human gov
eminent worthy Of the name political
machinery is a necessary antecedent, not
even TO be written down as a conse-
quence. Government may properly be
said to be a result, and party machinery
a cause. This does not, however, drive
us to any such hopeless conclusion as
that what We know az machine poll
tics" is a necessary thing On the con-
trary, party machinery, properly man
aged, should be and will be the enemy
of machine politics. Only by political
machinery the caucus. the convention
and the platform-oan great principles
be presented, supported and made eter
nal. An army Of millions. without d
flag, devoid Of discipline, barren Of lead
ers. if it remained in this chaotic state
would be powerless, even in great and
true cause. Disorganizeu public opin-
ion, no matter how clearly individuals
might comprehend vital public ques-
tions, would never establish a civil
truth OF break fetter, while the same
number OF men gathered into a party
and controlled by wholesome machinery
would become invincible. might emanci-
pate millions and found q state. Does
any one suppose the truth which Cob
den proclaimed 10 England could have
triumphed but for the formation OF the
Corn Laws league? Would American
independence have been secured with
out the political machinery which kept
patriotism in perpetual motion no the
colonies! Granted. then, the need for
party machinery. the rational question
is: GLOW much o. it, what kind shall
We have, and how shall it DO worksI2'
These questions properly decided will
furnish us with parties and parties with
powers which may, yes, always will, be
beneficial to the state Party machin-
cry. like all other, should be simple. so
that oil may understand ita operation
and so that any ore Of ordinary sense
can direct fits movements. Publicity Is
therefore one % tae essentials for party
machinery, and 10 should never be- hid
den OF placed IN q corner. Secret soci-
cites in politics are therefore the baue
OF party and sooner or later political
organizations succlmb o. them, as did
the whig party ia the United States
when Know Nothing lodges gained con
troll 10 It's councils.
Simplicity, next % publicity. IS The es-
sontial element .n roItl-a. machinery.
and therefore in tho United States lo-
cal, state and national politics should be-
separated. 1t Dts true that one purity
banner, one general set of principles
should and must control great party.
yet ts operation n tha county should
10 largely independent ~ state control.
ald state campaigns should Doe divorced
Hs much as possible from national com-
mitteo influences. Tie People. as
whole. are GOO Jealous e liberty. too
rrura ga Hrff .n..r. and o.. H.r.. 10 ....I.