The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-04-19
LIVE ISSUES.
LINES ARE BREAKING.
The Party Label No Longer Lures the
Intelligent Voter.

One of the healthiest signs of the
times is the manner in which, both
in Europe and America, great
parties are breaking up into smaller
groups.
The greater the number of parties,
the greater is the liberty of choice
to the voter. Consequently discus
sion is stimulated, the reasoning
faculties awakened, and political
education becomes an absolute
necessity.
Who ever heard of a Republican
who wanted the people educated on
finance, tariff, or transportation?
Who ever heard of a Democrat
who wanted the people to know the
real nature of a bond, national
bank, or the internal revenue
system
Never since the war has there
been any attempt on the part of
Democratic leaders to do more than
abuse the Republicans; nor any
effort of the Republican to do more
than vilify the Democrats.
And each, when in power, has
done exactly what it condemned
when out of power.
No attempt has been made to en-
Tighten the people upon the various
complex questions which the devel-
opment of our industrial, social and
political systems have forced upon
us.
These great questions have at last
happily broken away from the
thraldom of the two old parties.
The issues of o-day, pulsing with
the hot blood of real life, demand
attention, challenge consideration,
defy neglect.
The very existence of popular
government depends upon the wis
dom and the promptness with
which we deal with the questions
which have arisen between the
southwest and northeast; between
the laborer and the "protected"
capitalist who holds the power of
life and death over him; between
the corporations, the creatures of
human statute, and the people, the
creatures of divine law; between
the privileged classes who want the
earth and the masses who swear
that they shan't have it; between
the foreign financier-arrogant,
voracious, subtle, tireless-who has
selected the human toilers of the
world as his game, and the human
toiler who sees the danger, hates
the human huntsman, stands at
bay, and grimly prepares to fight
for his liberty, his home, his life.
These are momentous issues. No
two parties can choke them down,
be the attempt ever so cunningly
contrived.
Two parties have choked them
down during thirty years-and now
where are we?
On the very brik of national and
individual ruin-our republican
form of government reduced to a
mere machine of despOtism and
spoliatiOn.
Breaking away from Democracy
which loves everything Jackson
and Jefferson hated, and breaking
away from Republicanism which
hates everything Lincoln loved, the
people are forming themselves into
new parties, and are pushing to the
front the common sense idea that
principles are holier than parties,
and that ballots are only respectable
when they represent convictions.
In vain does the editorial owl,
perched drowsily in the gloom OF
ignorant prejudice, solemnly boot,
"There amt room for but two
parties in this country"
There is room, and / am glad
that the tenants are moving in.
Let us have more political groups
Let us have more parties pledged
to distinctive principles.
Let us have thought, investiga
tion, discussion, intelligent judg-
ment.
Let every party and every prin-
ciple be brought to the sternly
honest test of full examination.
Let the day be forever past when
we swallowed nauseous policies