Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-10

at the Populist state mass meeting
at Minneapolis, February Is:
wish to call special attention to
an important feature in political evo-
luton which is now taking definite
shape in our republic. 1t is one of
the most valuable gifts which has
fallen into our lap since free govern
ment was achieved by our fathers.
Up to the present time it has not IT.
tractRd the attention which it de-
serves. 1t is destined to become the
great focal point of political and
social interest and its Office is to
liberate society from the tyranny and
the crimes of party. We have all
witnessed in recent years, and indeed
within the past few weeks, the wis
dom OF that provision of our federal
Constitution which lodges the powers
of government in three coordinate
branches-the legislative, the execu-
tive and the judicial. They act as
checks upon each other. We all
recognize in this distribution of power
a valuable safeguard against the
hasty action aud the infidelty of law
makers and rulers. We would not for
a moment consent to the concentra-
tion Of all federal authority in any
one of these departments. For the
first time in the history of the repub-
lie we now have national triple al
lance among whose members is dis
tributed the power which otherwise
would be exercised by single party.
| esteem it to be one of the most inn
portant as well as one of the most ad-
vanced steps in political reformation
which this country has witnessed.
We have all mourned over and la
mented the corruption and the punic
faith of parties and party leaders, and
haYe asked, almost in dispair, how are
We ever to be relieved from this dan
ger? Will our party, If installed in
power, do any better While we were
lamentIng and standing aghast in the
presence of this giant evil, new force
made its appearance. 1t is the alli-
ance of three independent but kin
dred organizations, eacl pOwerless
within Itself, for the sole purpose of
forwarding certain well-defined re-
forms in government, and not for the
purpose of building up and placing in
power a political party. On the
contrary it is to liberate the people
and restore to them their right
to govern themsel ves. These allies
have stopped building party, and
have invited the people to exercise
their God-given right of self-govern-
ment. 1t is a mere voluntary alliance
and each of the parties to it is
check upon the Others. Here we
have at once the destruction of the
machine and an absolute guaranty of
the performance of ante election
promi ses, If the administration,
chosen by the allied forces should
fail to keep the pledges made to the
people, the alliance would be instantly
dissolved aid the administration left
helpless. This is infinitely preferable
to the rule of a single party, however
m uch it may be pledged to reform.
Again, having accomplished one re-
form, If it should refuse to 60 for
ward and take up the other impor-
tant and cognate questions, the al
lance would fall to pieces az once.
Good mem can come into such an
organization with perfect safety,
knowing that they will be absolutely
free from party tyranny, and knowing
further that they have ample secur-
ity that there will be steady for
ward movement for good.
This alliance is the death knell to
the machine in politics, and it is the
enthronement Of the people instead
of party to their Iightful place in
human goyelLment. A gain, it is as
perfect safe guard against raslI and
imprudent legislation as it is possible
for human ingenuity to invent. Ex-
perlence has proven that men often
need protection from their own rash
ness and bad judgment. We have
this security in perfect degreee in
this three-iold association of parties.
The organization will only be strong
when united. Separated they will be
utterly powerless. l regard this new
development as the great political
factor of the present day, and 1t
stands at the lawn of the new century
holding 10 its hand proclamation
of emancipation from the thraldom
and bloody reign Of party over the
people. 1t is like a new breath Of
| b, trsnrlA