The herald., 1897-05-17
CONCERTED EFFORT ESSENTIAL

Two political parties are generally all
that are necessary to accomplish re-
form, Conditions at times seem to re-
u1,ire or justify the formation of third
party, but such conditions do not long
continue. 1t is often said that, like aged
men, old parties become sluggish and
non-progressive and that new party Is
necessary to break the crust of sleepy
conservatism. However that may be, 1t
is a fact in our entire history that prog
ress has at last been the outcome of
battle between two parties and not OF
lthree-cornered contest.
If the formation Of a new party is
necessary in order to thrust more dis
tinctly an ISSUE upon the country. one
or the other OF the old parties Is apt
to adopt the policy or measure proposed,
which makes the new party unnecessary,
and consequently it passes out of exist
ence: or, if neither of the old parties is
thus Influenced. then one of them is
forced out of existence. The latter re-
suited to the Whig party in the contes;
over the slavery question.
There are always extremists and agi-
tors who may be the advance guard Of
reform, and they lead in the formation
of new parties. AS rule their meas
ures are radical and multifarious, so
much so that their progress in accumu-
lating popular strength is slow, because
the great majority Of the people are dis
posed to advance cautiously.
There will always be many things use
full and necessary to be done, and there
are always some things that should be
done first. The question is not altogether
what ought to be done, but it is material
also to find out what it is practicable to
do. Human progress has been most
effectually promoted by taking up one
question at time and disposing of it,
and then proceeding to others. Nothing
OF great value can be accomplished with
out concentration of effort, and sensible
men for the time being waive certain
questions in order to achieve progress
by uniting in support Of single meas
ure which is of value and should be the
first to be adopted.
At the present time the contest in this
country, defined in general language, is
between monopoly and trusts and the
masses of the people The former won
in the late presidential contest because
there was not thorough concentration Of
effort on the part of the opponents of
monopoly and trusts. There was a
formal coalition, but not complete
fusion. If all the elements of opposition
had been united and active, there is lit
tie doubt that the result would have
been different.
The elements favorable to reform and
progress comprised the Democrats rep
resented at the Chicago convention, the
Populists and the Silver Republicans,
but they did not fraternize and cooper
ate to the fullest extent There was more
or less balkiness on all sides The last
campaign may be considered as the be-
ginning of party reorganiza ton, and
when completed there will be alignment
in close ranks upon the great issue that
IL! QtSlllitb ~ Dt DlOuSIl Out Ill the CdUl-
raign Of 1900, though preliminary bat
ties will antecede the final and decisive
one. The fogy and monopolistic Demo-
Gratis formed a side-show, or went
straight over to the Republicans; some
of the Populists split off because the
Democratic party did not go to the
lengths they desired, and though many
Republicans broke from their party,
others friendly to reform and progre IS
voted with their party as a matter of
habit or because they were not entirely
convinced of the propriety Of another
course. They may also have been dis
couraged by the pickering and back
biting among the elements of the coali-
tion. 1t may be regarded as a certainty
that the Democrats who voted for Mr..
Mckinley will generally remain with
the Republicans, and the same will be