Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-01-05
JANUARY S, 1890.
A POLITICAL BAPTISM.

n NUMBER Oh Weli-lUteutlOHeu PDpuIISC
papers throughout the state are advocat-
ing the formation Of a new political party
to be composed OF the opponents Of the
single gold standard. The Elensburg
Dawn, one OF the leaders in the movement,
suggests that the bimetallists OF the state
democrats, populists and silver repub
licans-hold Il state convention and form
a new party, which it fondly imagines
can be turned out to order, atranted to
reform all political abuses that ever have
existed or ever will exist.
The number of Honest, thinking peo-
pie who believe that the mere change OF
the name of political organization
though composed Of substantially the
same persons-operates as sort OF hap
tism, purifying them, individually and
collectively, from all evil things political,
is surprising. Their number and their
honesty always attracts host Of profes.
sional politicians and grafters who ride
on the band wagon and organize and
ORGANIZE as long as supported in ease
by their honest-hearted dupes. The
dominant party always stands ready to
aid those political infants and, if neces
sary, supply the milk with which to
noursh them. knowing it will divide the
opposition and is, therefore. good
politics."
1t is passing strange, in view Of past
experience, that it never occurs 20 those
good people that a political-or any other
Organization is just as good AS the
average of its membership. no better, no
worse that anynumber of mem oers OF u
party sufficient to justify a belief in its
ability to reform things by new party,
can reform the old party itself, if reform
is really wanted that in attracting honest
reformers to its ranks it is simply giving
aid and comfort to the enemy.
While apparently honest, the Dawn is
woefully inconsistent. In its ''Plea for
Uni, Party" it shows an abiding faith
in the sacramental qualities of new
party out of an old people, yet says:
Fusion is dead. 1t is folly to
talk OF efiecting fusion of Populsts,
Middle-of-the-Road Populiets, Demo-
Gratis, Anti-fuson Democrats, Silver
Democrats, Silver Republicans, etc, ETC."
Where, then, is this union patty to
be fused from, the republican partyo
The only qualification requisite for mem
bcrship in this new party is opposition to
the single gold standard. These unf,si.
Die bodies are TO become iusDle upon
shedding the old names and taking on a
new one being thus "born again.
What rot. Honest opponents of the
single gold standard, OF ust-breedipg
tariffs, Of class legislation and class.mak.
ing courts do not have to enter repub.
lcan sideshow to find congenial party.
The democratic party stands pre-emi-
nently for the people and stands nearer
to the principles of Thomus jefferson
today than ever in the memory of living
man. The democratic party. whose or
ganization triumphed over twenty-five
years OF continuous defeat; whose un-
swerving fidelity to the plain people was
strong enough to repudiate its own presi.
dent and spew out some OF its ablest
leaders when they became disposed to
worship the golden calf al the behest of
that trust incubator, Wall street, and
whose declaration of principles enunciat-
ed at Chicago in 1896 will 90 down in
history as the grandest document in favor
OF government Of the people, by the
people and for the people written since
tn, Declaration of Independence, offers
al! that is demanded by the new party
adv COATES ard stands ready to welcome |
all who honestly desire to affirm these
principles into its ranks. What folly 1t |