The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-06-23


pages of history and mark how they are
strewn with the wrecks of political her
esy. People with strange ideas and in
satiabis ambitions may be tempted 20
start new political dogmas and promote
all sorts Of political heresies, but unless
based on some great fundamental truth
with high and enduring aims and pur-
poses an early grave Is as certain Is
that day follows night.
There has been no new party success
fully formed in this country since the
beginning OF the century. save one-sne
national Republican party. The records
show that Of all the movements that have
sprung up in the past hundred years OF
American politics, but one grew into per-
manence, though under another name.
and few of them ever'succeeded In en-
grating their ideas upon the legislation
of the country.
One of the most interesting OF the ear
iier "isms' was the anti-Masonic party
OF 1880. Il grew out Of the bitter feeling
aroused against Masonry by the death
of Morgan, and it seems remarkable that
upon such an issue a presidential ticket
should have been nominated. And yet
Writ and Elmaker polled over 10000 votes
and even carried the state of Vermont.
But the issue was too narrow to build
a party upon. and long before another
election the anti-Masonic party ceased to
exist.
The only really successful heresy was
that embodied n the platform OF the
Free Soil party of New York. While not
successful as the Free Soil party. 1t was
the forerunner of and eventually was
swallowed up by the great Republican
party of 1856. The Free Sellers came into
existence in 1874. and derived their in
spiration from the revolt Of Martin Van
Buren, against the pro-slavery ideas OF
the New York Democracy. AT that time
they were commonly designated barn
burners" as distinguished from the
''hunkers," or Silas Wright faction of
sympa thizers with slavery.
1t was not until 1SS that the Free Soil
ers sought national recognition. in which
year they held a national convention at
Albany with 100 delegates. nominated Van
Buren, for president and Charles Francis
Adams for vice president, and adopted
platform which strenuously protested
against the extension of human or So
called African slavery upon the free
soil of America" Van Buren, did not re-
ceive a single electoral vote, although
out of popular vote of $500. 1o0 he had
pe1 Tn, emit re ha fac ffsir re mis-
sion was so noble and humane, the Free
Soil party speedily declined. In 1852 as
a party 1t was on the wane. 1t nominated
John p. Hale for president in that year.
but he received only 1919 popular votes.
The Free Sellers continued their crusade.
but with the gathering Of clouds and the
mutterings of the approaching storm. the
passions of the people rose higher and
higher and in the midst of the tempest
the Republican party was born, hostile
TO slavery and favorable to a strong CEN
trail government with progressive and lib
eral ideas. The Free Sellers were swal-
lowed up in the new organization. Dur
ing the period OF their existence they
had always had from ten to twenty menu
bers OF congress. but never got an cleo
toral vote or carried state legislature,
The only other important popular craze
before the war was the American or
Knownothing movement OF 1856. They
took the form of a national party and
for candidates nominated Fillmore and
Donaldson in 1850 and Bell and Everett
in 1850. Men who in later years attained
great distinction in national affairs were
allied with the movement. but the party
never polled more than s per cent. OF the
popular vote and the breaking out of the
Rebellion wiped out every vestige of the
party in less than six months.
Tho so-cailed Liberal movement went
up in smoke with tho death of Horace
Greeley. The Greenback party, after a
f1tful existence of a few years in the
later los gave up the ghost, in spite OF
the fact that some very prominent men
were temporarily carried away by its de-
lusions. The Changers at one time WELD
ell a mighty influence in the West and
out OF their movement grew the Farm
ers Alliance OF Kansas and Nebraska
which. in turn, tumbled into the Populst
camp. The Populist craze of 1892 was
widespread. Three states were carried
and four senator's with a considerable
delegation In the lower house of congress
elected. But it is generally believed the
Popuiists reached high water mark in
the last presidential election when they
pOlled 1880 600 popular votes AS n party
the Indications are that II will fade away
and become thing of the past unless.
perchance. II can swallow up the free
silver people. in which event its life nay
he prolonged for few more years.
So long as men ride hobbies and fer
tile brains evolve eccentric methods fer
the amelioratiOn Of the condition OF the
people there win always be side political
movements, generally short-lived and in
significant. They are bound 10 die young
unless there be eternal merit in their
dogmss. Although. IN the past, two or
three OF these have made their clamors
heard and seen some Of their demands
take legislative shape the majority Of
such fesertsrs from party discipline have
come - grief before they had made any
impression upon public thought AMI tr
there is any lesson TO BE- learned frcrr,
their experience u IS that about the NOS,
hopeless task set % reformers can un-
dertsSs in these DAYS IS 70 establish a
new national party out Of the discomfort