The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-05-04
PARTY REORGANIZATION.

PARTY REORGANIZATION.
There is need Of a thorough reorganiz-
| alton Of party lines in this country. The
position Of the two great political par
ties on the questions before the people
at the present time is Inconsistent
and anomalous. At no time in the his
tory of this country have the political
parties been so thoroughly disorganized
and so completely at sea as to policies
at they are at present
Since the disposition of the tariff tenn
porarily, at least, the party leaders have
been in a quandry as to what to do and
say upon the money question. The Re-
publicans, since they nave gained con-
troll of congress, have earnestly striyen
to keep alive the tariff question and
avoid the silver struggle. The expert
ence of the past ten years with the tar
If affords an opportunity to trim sails
and form platforms with a hope of sue
cess, but the effect Of clear, definite
announcement upon silver is wholly un-
known, consequently leaders are cau-
tiously avoiding any unnecessary re-
marks.
The signs Of the times, however, are
that silver will not down. Strive as they
sert themselves upon this issue. The
unfortunate phase Of the silver contro-
versy is found in the fact that neither of
the parties as now constituted cane take
a decided stand. The final solution of
the question will on this account be
greatly postponed. ..... e..
Yet we believe that party ties are
weaker in this country today than they
have ever been. Ideas, not names, are
affecting the voters, and that because re-
cent difficulties have set people to think
ing.
Enthusiastic Democrats applaud the
names Of Jefferson and Jackson, but are
unwilling to accept their deeds as a So
luton of the questions now before the
people. So also the time has passed
when unpatriotic haunt Of the "bloody
shirt will enthuse the Republican
masses. In a government by the peo-
pie political parties are necessary in
cident of government. But they are only
an incident, only the expression OF the
different views held by the people. They
are means, not an object. Loyalty to
party is commendaple only when it is
loyalty to principle. Much Of the diff
flculty in settling political questions in
this country today is directly attribute
BILE to the fact that neither of the polit-
ical parties are agreed upon any definite
plans for the present or the future. When
political questions are before the people
of England the different parties are
prompt to declare themselves in a clear
and definite way. When questions arise
between parliamentary elections. the
party leaders assume the responsibility
of acting and if defeated voluntarily
quit office and appeal to the country for
its approval. This is government by
party. The issues are as plainly set
forth in the appeals to the electors as the
issue in an action at law is by the COM
plant and answer. The parties in par
lament therefore agree among them
selves, at least, as to what should be done
in regard to every important question,
and SO soon as there is a disagreement
another election is held. This explains
the fact that how a body Of over 600
members can be kept together and bus
mess transacted by a party with only
bare majority Of eleven. Parties IN
every important question. 1t is doubt
full whether the issues between political
parties in this country can ever be SO
definitely drawn. The real difficulty in
this country is that local issues and
needs make national party with def
mite policies almost impossible. Democ-
racy in New, England is one thing and
quite . different thing south Of Mason
ard Dixon's line. The Republican par
ties of Pennsylvania and Colorado arc
entirely different parties With distinct
views and policies The actions Of the
Democrats - the lest congress silonT
conclusiYly that the psrty IS not
sntzell pm consiia ana lsnaI lines
81 money ,lslfs II ma
d