The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-08
THE MACHINERY OF POLITICS.
The Voter "Feels His Oats" and Hi
Power Is Certain to Increase.

Atlantic Monthly.
1t is very certain that the great mass of
the voters enjoy parties and party organiza-
tons; and however useful independently may
be as a leaven, you cannot make loaf
OF bread of nothing but yeast and salt. We
shall continue TO work by parties for some
time to come, and all have said relates
to the inefficiency of your present machin-
cry. not to the Immediate abolition or all
machinery. 1 say that your present ma
chimes utilize very small percentage OF
that enormous motive power, the spirit of
the American people. which you ought to
have at your command: and l think i can
make you see what mean by comparison:
Twenty years ago there were two general
methods of travel. by horses and by steam
Men walked, but it was chiefly for the sake
of exercise, and rarely to get from place to
place; at the other end of the line, balloon
ing was resorted TO only in the last ext
was-in the air. Nowadays, what with BIZ
cycles on the one hand and electric rail-
roads on the other, the whole matter of To-
comotion has been recast, and some san
gune people tell you horses and steam will
never be used again. except so far as the
former will feed "wheelmen,' and the lat
ter run electric engines Meanwhile. Prof.
Langley and Mr.. Maxim are determined
we shall fly.
Now it is perfectly true that the action
of a bicyclist is only the combination OF
human legs with wheels; and 1t is as true
that no economical method OF creating
electric currents has been found except the
old fuel and steam. But the applications
are so entirely novel that a revolution has
resulted. 1t is so in politics-there are two
great motive powers; the energy Of in
dividual action, which is like mans
using his legs, and the force OF combined
action for a common interest, which is
like steam. Politicians have got out of the
latter all that their present machinery will
effect and II does not satisfy the people:
they are resorting more and more to in
dependent work or chance combination; but,
like the direct use Of legs. whether human
or animal, these are not equal to national
demands. IDEAL nonpartisan politics Is al.
most as much In the clouds as flying. We
have got to take our legs and our steam
our WILL so indonlitable IL irritated, our
love Of cooperation. so resistless when
aroused-and utilize them by new methods
which shall do what the old ones. already
strained and overstrained, are losing their
power to accomplish. s.
Great as have been the advances OF elec-
trio travel of late years, the advance or BIZ
cycling has been greater. Men and women
who wish TO go from point to point are vast
ly more independent OF pubic conveyances
than they ever were in the days Of walking
yidual voter, the man of local and special
Organization. is feeling his oats as he
never used to do. His power is going to in
crease. At the same time the American
people love combination; they love joint ac-
ton; they love to sweep on In great masses
under the banner of some uniting cause; but
those who study and manage and operate
and control such joint action must throw
their old mechanism aside, and turn that
mighty force. stored in the very hearts OF
their countrymen, into new channels, and
consgn their ancient go-carts TO the polit>
ical museums of the future.