The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27
RESTORATION OF AN OPPOSITION.
seine Reassss Why Two ssreng ard
Capable Parties Are Needed.
From the New Yors Evening Post.

Frcn the New Yors Evening Pest
II is an instructive coincidence that a
triumphant Conservative party in Eng
land should be deploring the weakness OF
It's Liberal opponents. AZ the very mo-
fnent that a victorious Republican parts
In tie United States Is hoping that the
Democrats win somehow pull themselves
together and constitute an effective oppo-
sition party. At first sight this seems too
oltruistieaily good 10 be true. The object
OF parties being TO win political power.
one would think that the feebleness of an
antagonist would be 4 cause Of rejoicing
instead Of dismay The weaker and more
niFided your rivals. the easier and moro
secure your accession to power. Way
should the Tories urge the Liberals 10
take up Rnsebery, or some other hopeful
leaaer' and make A better fight Of it? DO
tney want 70 be beaten next time? The
hepuoiicans say they hope the Denloc-
racy viii be able to rid itself OF the fatal
burden Of Bryanism. Why so, II Bryan
ism spells defeat? Why not resort 10
every trick In order to induce the Demo-
Gratis TO make Bryan their perpetual can
didate' and so go TO perpetual Disaster
we may be sure that il IS not political
unselhshhess which dictates this attitude
IN either England or this country. II IS.
rather. enlightened selfshness that leads
the party IN power to desire strong par-
~ IN opposition. We will rot stop now 10
consider the patriotic motive. on broad
grounds OF the good OF the nation Il Is. Of
course. a misfortune, under a system OF
party government, when one psrtv h.
comes Sd imbecile or dangerous that II
cannot seriously be thought of as an al
tentative TO the other We do not doubt
that many Republicans put the matter in
TINS large way; but more OF them face the
question on sheer partisan grounds. They
see, somewhat vaguely. perhaps. yet with
q sure and sound instinct. that II is \
good thing for their own party to have
the other fit to take the ield. and 60
purely as good Republicans, thew would
like to see the Democrats in better fight
ing trim.
The real reason they may never state 10
themselves clearly; but a little reflection
will show why ii is that ii Is well for a
party in power, as 1t is for the country at
large, to have strong opposition. Par
ties, like men. have to distrust their own
virtue. Party nature, Ike human nature,
Is prone TO do evil. 1t needs to keep it.
self under restraint. Confronting pleasant
vices, 1t needs to have before its gaze
their sure penalties. Now an alert and
vigorous opposition party is like law and
policeman and prison 10 warn the party in
power OF the certain end OF the political
transgressor. Remove all fear Of punish
ment, and the impetus of partisan feel
ing, the plotting of bosses. the ravaging
OF the spokesman, and the corruptionist.
Will have fearfully free swing. The party
viii soon cease to be astonished at its
own moderation, for it will have none at
all, Old standards and landmarks will be
swept away. and an acceleratiOn of folly
will mark the course and policy of tie
leaders. The thing will go on until even
the evil opposition appears the lesser evil.
This 1t is which thoughtful Republicans
fear for their own party unless it is
sobered and made cautious by the revival
of respectable and trustworthy Democ-
racy