The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-01
TIE POLITICAL nEro1ur1oM.
Hsw the Political Ignorance ana Bindness or
Responsibility Arc Assisting IT,.

tho system OF political organization which has
existed In this republic from the beginning arc
divided into two classes. First, there are
those whose purpose is to produce disor-
ganization because 1t would serve the end
Of general social and political disorganiza-
ton for which they arc striving as a means
for the destruction of the conservative
forces Of society. Secondly, there are the
men, blindly allied with the others. who desire
simply to smash political organization as an OBJ
struction in their path. though really It is essen
tial to the good government for which they are
seeking.
From the colonial days OF this country tho
System Of political organization has been sub
stantlnlly the same. The war OF tho Revolu-
ton, by which we gained our independence,
could not have occurred except for the leader
ship of a few men, a few families In each colony.
/ cannot now do moro than refer to that fact,
but a study of the historical authorities estab-
fishing IL will be both interesting and convinc-
ing to any Of my readers who choose to explore
the subject. When afterward the States formed
n Federal Union the same system continued
in each. and 1t has remained ever since as ono of
the most conservative forces of our politics,
concentrating and controlling popular senti-
mont, keeping 1t within safe channels. and
avoiding the dangers of excuses possibly lurk-
ing in universal suffrage.
coI lndh " thTb w ET6hJ par
ties, each under conservative control, carried
this country through the porils incident to tho in.
~itiation Of a new experiment in government, and
that formative period has not yet closed. The
multiplication of parties and factions of parties.
which gives to the French Chamber and tho
German Reichstag so motley a political charac-
ter, has had no counterpart in this republic as a
whole and in the several States individually.
There have been rebellions within parties and
moro or less powerful bolts, but in the long run
parties have resumed their integrity. When a
now party has arisen It has come by a natural
process Of evolution from the old. as the Repub-
lican party from the wings. The Wing party
died in giving birth to the Republican.
or recent years. the Populistic movement was
arevolt against both the Democratic and Repub-
llcan parties, and 1t assumed proportions SO
portentous that 1t cast about q million votes in
1892, and through Its disturbance of the politi.
cal equilibrium in the Western States the Demo-
cratic party was enabled to elect Mr.. Cleveland.
In 1896. however, the Populist party was abb
Borbed in the Democratic party. according to
the law OF political development in this country.
In this process of absorption it lost some OF its
most extreme Distinguishing features, but 80
also was the Democratic party deprived of dis
~tinctive features, which had before given it its
individuality. Tho result was neither wholly
Populistic nor wholly Democratic. but was q
compound of both, q new political evolution.
The new party thus generated, under the rule
to which / have referred, will continue to re-
place the two out of which it was developed.
The Democratic party of the past has gone
never to return.
This is indicated Enthusiastically by the course Of
the Democracy since the last election in every
State ofthe Union. Manifcstly the newly evolved
and transformed Democratic party is to remain
unchanged. Nothing, however. is so significant
OF its present spirit and tendency as the nomina-
tion OF Henry George here in New York ms a
prominently regular Democratic candidate.
He has been put in nomination distinctly on the
authoritative and distinguishing Democratic
PLATFORM, and IL he runs will make his canvass
as the only regular Democratic candidate.
The attempt which Is now making to break up
the organization Of the Republican party in
this city. therefore, Is peculiarly dangerous at
this time. for such. of course, is the real animus
OF the Low movement. 1t is a plot to under
mine political organization. No objection is
made or can be made to the candidacy of Gen.
Tracy. except on the score that he represents
Republican organization. The assault is on
the system OF political organization. which, as I
have said. is historical in this republic. essen
TALLY American. 1t gets its impulse from both
an inconsideratc and a malicious spirit OF rebel
lion against the Republican leadership Of Sena-
tor Platt simply because he is a leader. Such
leadership is no wise q novel political develop
ment in this State, but in its essential princi-
pies has existed ever since New York
became a State. Mr.. Platt succeeds Thur
low Weed and Roscoe Conkling as the
Republican leader, following substantially
tho same methods pursued by them.
methods. as you have pointed out. closely akin
to those OF Samuel J. Tllden as a Democratic
leadcr Thny haya oroypp nm harauaa tbn- -
necessary to the massing Of the force of a great
party and are requisite for its best interests,
and consequently the best interests Of the State
and the Union, in the view OF those composing
the party. Tho cutlery against "Plattism "
comes reasonably enough from the enemies Of
the Republican party. for it implies an organiza-
tion without which that party would become an
easy prey for them: but in Republican mouths it
is downriGht madness. The only accusation these
inconsiderate Republicans bring against Mr..
Plat Is that he has perfected that organization
too completely; but what higher praise could be
bestowed on him from the true Republican
point of vicwl
They are really trying to destroy the strongest
conservative force in the State OF New York in
order TO substitute for 1t q party Iawlessness
conducive only TO the political confusion for
which the enemies of social order and political
Bobriety arc working SO industriously, like
thieves who seek to provoke a riot in order that
they may plumber more successfully In the dis
order. Mr.. Charles Stewart Smith Is a man who
may be taken as II fair representative OF these
unreiccting, unphilosophic. and mischievous
Republicans. He has been President OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce. and accordingly his natural i'm
pulses are conservative. yet really he has been
as holly engaged in the service OF Organism
since the opening OF spring as if he were the
widest social radical.
Mr.. Smith is using all his efforts to paralyzo
tho organization of the Republican party in
Now York, now the only remaining bulwark OF
social order and political sanity, and to disin-
tegrate 1t. He might as well have undertaken
tho job last year, 30 far as the interests OF Now
York are concerned. Why didn't he go for Mr..
Plat In the campaign OF 1896 The contest is
the same this year. Organism hangs over tho
political horizon rs a dangerous cloud which has
increased in thickness and blackness rather than
been dissipated since last November; yet Mr..
Smith and his colleagues. in the blindness of
their political perceptions, are doing all they can
TO make the coming storm an irresistible delugc
for New York,