Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-06
The Two Parties.

We referred yesterday, to char
acterization Of the two great parties
by Populist convention in the West.
A Chicago paper, which gives conf
plete account of the convention, gives
the resolution in full and it is worth a
few moments consideration. The
convention was that of the Illinois
Populists who have become an unim-
portant factor in the politics of the
state. like the Socialists and so-called
Prohibitionists. and SO are viewing
the political situation from the atti-
tude of an impartial spectator. To
show how well they are fitted for the
task of non-partisan critic they put
the following plank into their plat
form:
1--WE look on the Republican party
with it's gold standard and its banking
policy as our open enemy, with no in
tention of concealing it's purpose We
look on the Democratic party as a
party of barter and sale. it's principal
object being to get office, with it's his
tory OF fusion, broken promises, in
trigue and deceit, as the secret enemy
of the Populist party. While the Re-
publican party does something and
raises hell the Democratic party raises
hell and does nothing
While some may find fault with the
unnecessary vigor of the language in
the closing sentence, it will be gem
orally admitted that the characterize
ton has much truth in it. The Re
publican party does not deny that it is
the gold standard party and that it is
the open enemy of Populism with it's
motely collection of follies and falla-
cies and freaks. The Democratic
party's only definite aim is to ge.
office: its history is full of intrigue,
broken promises and deceit, and it has
no use for the Populist party except
when it can gain something by fusion
1t is also to be admitted that there
is basis of truth to the assertion that
while the Republican party does
something and raises hell, the Demo-
cratic party raises hell and does moth
ing" All the worlds history shows
that it is impossible to make progress
without doing small percentage Of
harm. In this sense the Illinois Popu-
lists are right when they say that
while the Republican party accom-
plishes actual results for the good of
the country it inevitably does some
harm at the same time. But there is
no excuse for the party that does
nearly all harm and little or no good
That the Democratic party is such 2
party is shown by a summary of its
record and glance at its attitude on
the issues of the day. So ludicrous
was its incapacity when given ma
tional power. a few years ago, that
Sam Jones, the noted Georgia evangel-
list. condensed the situation in Il few
words by saying: THE Democratic
party can't pass anything. 1t can't
even pass a liquor saloon!"
Along this same line the Philadelphia
Press says: Taking the history of
parties during the present generation
as guide. it can be truthfully said
that in all that time the Republican
party has accomplished 95 per cent. Of
what has been achieved and may nave
done 5 per cent. of harm, while the
Democratic party has perhaps done 5
per cent. of good and at least 50 per
cent. of harm. That is what the I'LL
nois Ponulists meant last week when
they sized up the parties in their plat
form" AS it is in the Union at large
so it is here in Maine. and the voters
can take their choice when they go to
the polls, next Monday.