The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-25
@attsman & Journal.
ARTHUR ROPES. General Editor
A Third Party.

Notwithstanding the history of third
parties in great national elections has
shown the utter futllity of these move
ments, there is again some languid agi-
tation for the nomination Of candi-
date for the presidency in the especial
interest of those peculiar individuals
whose consciences, or susceptibilities,
or other moral, or mental, or tempera-
mental conditions, impel them to reject
both Mckinley and Bryan.
A practical man, right minded, sim
cere, his mental and moral conditions
wholesome, does not ask a third party.
He is ready to fight the battle on the
lines drawn, the issues raised, and vote
for the candidates nominated. Ex-Mayor
Hewitt of New York and ex-Comp-
troller Eckles of Chicago are good il
lustrations of such men among Demo-
Gratis; Senator Hoar and ex-senator
Edmunds among Republicans. The
third party men are apt to be people
who have become somewhat or wholly
morbidly sentimental on certain politi-
cal subjects, or who do not justly esti-
mate the proportion or bearing of po-
litical questions. With this class the
imaginary evils and dangers of impe-
rialism or expansion overshadow the
real dangers that lurk in the economic
and financial heresies of the Bryan
platform. A shadow disturbs them,
and for protection they fee to the pro-
lection of third party; their resent
ment may have been stirred and they
seek satisfaction in the puny revenge
of third party vote; they have irredu-
chile prejudces against voting for the
candidate of the party they have come
to regard with partisan hostility, though
they we'll understand that on the real
"paramount issue" that party and it's
candidates are right, are pursuing in
the administration of the government,
and will continue to follow, the same
safe course and obey the same safe
principles and maxims that they them
selves habitually observe in the man
agement of their personal affairs and
which contribute to their prosperity.
They know that these things are funda-
mental, are essentials; they know that
the other things-and history rein
forces their knowledge-are imaginary
or at the worst transitory, but still they
falter when the question of doing in
politics precisely what they would do in
the management of their personal bust
ness affairs is submitted to their consid-
Grafton. The discussions of the can
vass will bring the great majority of
this latter class to right conclusions;
for the others there is probably no hope
or cure, and for their comfort and sat.
isfaction the third party is devised.
No rational Democrat believes that
the repetition of the Palmer and Buck
ner movement of 1896 can be made in
1900 the basis of conserving the old
Democratic organization, or of per-
manent national party. The facts of
such sporadic movements, before that
of 1896 as well as the political results of
the Indianapolis convention of four
years ago, show that they have never
had any influence upon final results,
except perhaps to render them in their
moral bearing or numerical impressive
ness somewhat less conclusive. In the
election of 1896 only 1872, $40 votes were
cast for the third, or Palmer and Buck
ner, ticket, out of total vote of 49,
S75,653. For the Populist ticket of
1892, 1,041 ,029 votes were cast in total
Of 12059 1852, but the issues were de-
cided between the main contestants of
the Republican and Democratic parties.
Excepting the instance of 1892, the
third party votes have been practically
insignificant. The situation now is the
same as in 1896. Organism and Popu-
lism are one and the same thing. A
third ticket will be as unavailing as it
was in 1895. The issue is between Nc
Kinley and Bryan, and any voter who
condemns Bryan's political principles,
and breads their triumph, but wants, or
votes for, third ticket, is thereby con-
tributing to the triumph of the princi
pies he condemns and whose suprem
acy he fears. The only thing that will
prevent the success of his contribution,
in 1900, as in 1896, will be the circum-
stance that far the greater number of his
fellow citizens are wiser, more unpreju
diced and more patriotic in their politi
cal thinking and in their voting.