The Saint Paul globe., 1899-12-13

UNREASONING RADICALISM.
The ways of the radical in American
politics ere almost always pasr finding
out. Indeed, it not infrequently happens
that he never has but the most vague
idea himself as to either ways or
other men regard as rational or practi-
cable, and he is proud of It, But he
usually dies as he has lived, without
having the felicity of seeing the mass Of
humanity adopt his radicalism. 1t must
be always said for him, however, that
he believes in his own radcalism and
that it's adoption by the rest of the world
in some directions at least, would result
in the worlds greatest good. Sometimes
he Is not all wrong in his conclusions;
but, as rule, he or the world is hope
lessly at fault. for they rarely, if ever,
reach common plane of understanding
on any given proposition.
remarkable instance of this kind is
presented to view through the delibera-
tions few days ago of the Union Reform
party at Columbus, o. While Mayor
Jones name is not mentioned in connec-
ton with the gathering 1t Is generally
understood that 1t represented the views
and opinions of those who have followed
that gentleman so far as he has pro-
ceeded on his political career. The Union
Reform party had several propositions
laid before it's representatives looking
toward the cooperation of it's members
with the rest of the world which might
be in agreement with it on certain of it's
accepted doctrines. 1t was suggested,
for instance, that in certain directions in
which its beliefs and the policy of the
national Democratic party touched there
should be cooperation on their part with
that party. 1t was suggested that it
should make it's platform broad enough
to include matters of general interest in
the propagation of which men of the
other parties are interested, and in which
the world is actively interesting itself.
These and all other suggestions were re-
Jected, and the Union Reform party came
to the wonderful conclusion that there
was but a single plank to be embodied in
it's platform. and that it's influence should
be addressed entirely to the advancement
of that plank. The idea involved was the
establishment of the initiative and refer
endum method for all legislation, state
and national
Having reached this remarkable con-
cfusion the Union Reform party decided
forthwith to put a presidential ticket in
the field in 1900, and also to nominate
state tickets on this issue in every state
where the idea has found any lodgment.
Conventions for the nomination of can
didates are to be totally abolished when
the Union Reform party has won a presi-
Dental election; and in the meantime the
organization itself will operate exclu-
sively in the conduct Of its party inter-
ests in national and state contests, as
we'll as in county contests in the state
of Ohio, through the agency of the direct
vote of Its membership.
It Is thus that good men who are In
tent on a removal of popular grievances
too often dissipate their strength. And
while they thus proceed without refer
ence to the progress of the worlds af-
fairs they help to fasten all the more
securely the evils on the commonwealth
which they profess to be anxious to rem
edy 1t is hardly to be wondered at that
the United States, with all its boasted
progress, is far and away behind many
of the older countries in the most funda
mental requirements to effective popular
control in public affairs, as, for instance,
in the realm of municipal government.
And it will continue so to be as long as
even a respectable minority Of It's people
thus refuse TO work in harmony and CO.
operation with other men as earnest as
they, but who look to the realities Of life
in the remedies which they seek to apply
TO existing evils.