The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-09-20
A Party That Car Win.

y
The lesson Of the elections of the Ia st
twenty-five years, and especially OF
those of the last ten years, is that the
voters have a strong preference for
men of character, and for men who will,
flrmly resist the demands of self-seek-
ing poltlclans. The politicians have
! come to recognize the fact that the neo-
pie believe in civil service reform, 1T
IS Ior TINS reason that the present law
| was passed, and for this reason. too
that it has not been repealed. Another
lesson is that the people of the whole
| country are not in favor of the inter-
| ference Of the Federal government in
state and local elections. They are for
| honest money. They are opposed TO
such high-protective customs du-
ties as were imposed by the
| Mckinley act, and they evidently
believe that changes in the tariff should
oe for the purpose of relieving com
merce of its shackles. They are
against the partnership Of the govern
ment In private enterprises, and. while
they nave no sympathy with the popu
listic idea of government ownership
they are hostile to the equally commu-
n1stlc theory that the government
should engage with capitalists for the
promotion of private interests, for the
manipulation of the money market for
enrlcn1ng private citizens with money
taken from the taxpayers.
If a. party could be organized on the
basis Of this brief outline of princinles
If would tai y1,
uehtlal election. 1t would declare in
favor of a single gold standard, leaving
the question of international bimetaI-
nsm to be answered when it becomes
practical and present 1t would insist
on the retirement of the greenbacks
ana treasury notes and the withdrawal
OF the government from the banking
business. 1t would declare against anv
EFFORT to disturb the growing prosperity
OF the country by increasing customs
dutles. 1t would make it clear. NOT
only by its professions and pledges. but
by the character of it's leaders and can
didates, that civil service reform is an
established institution of the govern
ment, and that SO long as If retained
power no change in it would be made
except Tor the purpose of extending it's
provisions, to the end that all admins
trat1ve offices should finally be brought
within the classified service. 1t would
pledge itself to maintain the princinle |
that taxation ought to be for nuhIin |
purposes only, and that no money |
should be taken from the people al
large for the benefit of any individual |
or corporation, or of any class of citi- |
zens. 1t would also promise that all |
should be fair and equal, and |
that 1t ought not, like the late populist |
income tax, to rest on class divisions |
Above all, it would be an American
and not lingo party
Neither of the existing parties has
ever made these declarations or given
-hls evidence of respect for character
Whenever either of them has ap-
such a platform as is here
;ketched, it has discredited it either bv
is nominations or by its qualifications
through evasions and verbal double
lealings. But if neither party will
adopt this program-a program which
IN examination of the votes cast at tho
rational elections of the last ten wears
VIII be shown to be popular-why can
here not be revision of party lines2
Would it not be better to be one of a
'arty seeking to satisfy that which is
'est in the country than to go on with
he two old organizations in struggle
o gain the pelf of office with the aid Of
IL that is worst?
Why can there not be one party at
east led by men who are for the coun-
ry, and not for themselves aIone2