The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-06
The Politics OF the Present ana OF
the Future.

II the many would.be political leaders in
these parts who are now cultivating vault
ing ambitions should wake up to a con
sciousness Of a fact that stares everybody else
In the face, they might find some one to lead.
That fact Is that the issues on which will
he fought the political campaigns Of this
year, and probably for many years to come,
ut least until after the great national cam
paign Of the opening year of the new CEN
tury, are already fixed n determined be-
yond the possibility Of change. They may
be modified in the manner Of their express
sion, but in substance and In essence the
issues of last year will remain for settle
ment by the people, and they will not be
disposed of as the dominating questions OF
politics until they have been settled finally.
All attempts to fabricate other issues to
obscure those real and overmastering issues
will be wasted efforts. Tammany Hall, for
instance, might try to subordinate them to
"dollar gas" municipal ownership Of
franchises" or even Herr OTTENDoRFER's
tremendous lager beer issue, but they would
still remain dominant in the campaign.
The others would soon drop away into an
obscurity from which it would be impossi-
BILE to drag them. Why is thatf 1t is be.
cause the real issues include all others, go.
ing to the very existence, the very essence of
government and Of the social organization.
The greater includes the less. The other
questions are only incidental; these are
fundamental.
At his time young fellows ambitious
Oh figuring in politics and shaping the
future of this republic have conceived
the notion that "non-partisanship in mu-
nicipal politics" is a mine rich in posi-.
bilities for the youthful political adven.
turer. eff we go in for good government
simply" they say to themselves, CIV
shall be the beginners of a tremendous
movement, for which the future will bring
great rewards of distinction" But there
is already an issue which can be set aside by
no other. 1t is not the good government of
particular town merely, but the principles
upon which all government must rest in
order to be good. It is not whether a par
ticular man Is good, and in truth there is nc
mar who stands out singular in his good
ness, but whether a distinct and precisely
formulated theory or principle Of govern
ment is good. In other words, 1t is the
Chicago platform, for which $500. OOC
people in the Union and $4,000 here in
New York voted last November. A radical
revolution in our theory and method of gov
erpment and even in the order and organi
cation of civilization, was there proposed.
It Is a non-partisan issue in the sense thai
II has broken up the old lines of partisan
separation. The supporters of the Chicago
platform include Democrats, Republicans
Populists, Socialists, and labor ~organiza
lions as they were before 1t was thrust for
ward. The opposition is made up of Re
publicans and Democrats. Partisanship
therefore, remains; but 1t is a new par
tisanship.
If young men are ambitious Of gettin,
into line with the forces which will shap
tho politics Of the future, they must frs
Of all have wit enough and discernmen
enough to see the direction political ten
denotes have taken so Enthusiastically and 3,
n~nchangeablv. They must broaden thei
minds. Old political leaders who di,
not comprehend the full significance OF tn
radical political Transformation brough
about at Chicago a veal ago nave fallen on
of the procession, and II the young chap
were bright enough to discriminate between
political wheat and political chaff the,
might get a chance to take their places
The old political order has passed away
and now there is a new order.