The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-04-12
N THERE ROOM FOR
4 THIRD PARTY?'.
OR. CYRUS THOMPSON INSaFRs THe
QUESTION.
HOW PARTY SHOULD BE JUDGED
BEFORE AND AFTER "A GRANGE

BEFORE AND AFTER "A CHANCE
Democratic Promises aud the Democratic
Record Reviewed and Contrssted.---Sot
Single Pledge Redeemed.---A >impI.
business Proposition. - Some sound
Logic.
EDITOR OF The CAUCASIAN -
just after the November election in
1893, The Atlanta Constitution.
(Which In the interval of campaigns
feigns great friendliness FOR the mas
ses and is remarkable ALWAYS Cor the
agility Of its frequent somersets) pub
llshed an editorial which was copied
by the Fayetteville Observer under
the headline, ''No Place for Third
Party
About a month ago, a personal
friend, whose political views differ
from mine, with a measure of quiet
compassion for my waywardness, di-
rected my attention to this editorial.
| read the editorial with interest :;
for from careful observation of the
course of events and from passing
association with men of every pdrti-
san utilization in all sections of the
State, had become very certain not
only that there was a place for a
Third party, but that this place was
growing larger from day to day.
Ride with open ears in railroad
car, or listen attentively in a hotel.
or drop into conversation with d
stranger by the way, as | have done
the past year, and the magnitude Of
popular disgust the inevitable de-
fection from old party lines, and the
rapid growth of Popuhst sentiment
become so evident that you have no
need to read official figures for en-,
couragement; nor will you be put
out of heart by editorial statements
like the following: at becomes
evident that the Populists have cut
very insignificant figure in the
fight. They were over
whelmingly showed under in Virgil
MA. In other states they
failed to cause even a ripple on the
surface. They cannot org
anize a Third party with any reason
able hope of success under existing
conditions" This last phrase, Gun
der existing conditions,' may be in
tended as a mild prophecy of the re-
petition In the future of the fraud
ulent methods used here in 1892 and
used in Virginia in 1898 to "snow
under" the Populists, methods which
pave an easy road to bloodsbed in
very conservative communities.
Furthermore, it is well known to
readers Of reform papers that the
P.pulists in 1898 made remarkable
gains everywhere, notably in Virgil
Mia even iii the face of fraud self
confessed, while the old parties, even
when successful, succeeded with d
greatly diminished poll. The army
of stay-at-homes was never SO great.
In Virginia, for instance, thousands
having lost confidence in the Demo
cratic party but not yet having the
courage necessary to break entirely
from old associations, or suffering
the common feeling of the deceived
"a temporary loss Of faith in every
thing, expressed their disgust by no,
voting at all.
THE USE THE CITIZEN SHOULD MAKE
OF A PARTY.
After reading such editorials III
the light of events now transpiring
one feels inclined to ask, what is the
purpose OF political parties, and why
do men gather to the support Of one
or another? Parties come into ex.
istence for the purpose of redressine
popular wrongs. You can conceive
of no reason for their existence if il
be not to secure the enactment OF
certain definite principles into law
principles which in the judgment Of
their advocates will advance the gen
eral welfare. A man Of intelligence
will support one party or another &C
cording as the principles and th'
practice of the one or the other ar,
consonant with his own views 0.
right and justice.
HOW TO BE JUDGED BEFORE AND AF
TER "a CHANCE"
Until a party has "a chance" p
that word is classic-it may justl,
plead for support on the basis of it
principles. After 1t has had
> chance, it must be judged on tn
basis of its practice as the best ant
: only evidence Of its principles. "B
their fruits shall ye know them.
} When a party has had a chance-an
has grossly failed to use it, when i
! has laid aside it's ancient principle
and practiced the principles OF it
enemy, only maudlin sentiment OF
. the one hand or worse than suicida
prejudice on the other can secure th
continual support Of its adherents.
, A SIMPLE BUSINESS PROPOSITION.
Political parties are made for Us
r on broad principles of humanity
: The support of party ought to be
e business proposition. If you bough
r plow to do a certain work, gave ]
d fair trial, and it failed utterly, q
: a man of common sense, what woul
j you do? If you bought COW fc
: milk, fed her we'll, and she gave n
: milk, would you keep ca feeding he
with the certainty of do ng withou
S milk, simply because of her relatio
e to your ancestry?
: ANILLUSTRATION NTHATILLUSTRATE
. A certain man was devoted
'possum. While possum-huntin
!. he caught polecat. Through pre-