Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-10
NEW PARTY IDEA.

r has been said that Sena tor Morgan
is the most thoroughly educated member
of the United States Senate Whether
he is entitled TO that distinction. we know
NOT But unouesttonably he is a man Of
wide information. has a brilliant mind,
and Is exceedingly fertile In suggestions.
However. it cannot be admitted that all
Of his suggestions arc wise and pracu-
cal Indeed, some Of them are positively
utopian, and others. should they mate
rialize. would be harmful.
Recently Senator Morgan gave both the
Democratic and the Republican parties a
dressing down on the antitrust legisla-
ton question. He declared that both
stood in fear Of the big corporations, aud
he virtually favored a new party to fight
the trusts,
In come quarters this new party idea.
seems to commend itself: At anySrate. It
is being discussed as if 1t We're a matter
to be taken seriously. More's tho pity.
New party movements are political Jack
O. lanterns. Tho only result Of following
after them Is decentralization. and natu-
rally the party out Of power is the great
err sufferer from the conditions engen-
dered.
Such movements never accomplish what
they propose to accomplish. Nothing has
proved more injurious to the Democratic
party than new parties. These have
either played into the hands Of the Re
publicahs by becoming the negative al
lies Of the latter. or have drawn the DEM
ocracy into quasi alliances with them,
which in the end weakened Democratic
organization and produced other unfortu-
nate consequences.
But even. had not experience demon
open to the objections-the reprehenslon
cited. tn the present instance an effort
to organize a new party for the purpose
indicated by Senator Morgan would be
the height of folly. It would be a monu-
mental political blunder absolutely mex
cusable. and repusant to the dictates
Of common sense.
An antitrust party already exists in
the Democratic party which is to-day
stronger and more united than It has
been for some years. Its increased
strength and harmony are due in far
larger part to the recognition that first
and foremost in the policies and doctrines
1t stands for is tariff revision Only
through tariff revision can the trusts be
successfully fought, and hence a new par
tx, G-],$ fr.,cf IN
use the one weapon to which they are
yulnera ble-would In sense have to be
g mona f1iliating Democratic organization.
The proposition Is an absurdity on its
face, and In the circumstances the coun-
try has about as much use for such an
| organization as a frog has for side
! pockets.
No; the thing to do Is not to organize
| new party. 1t is to keep 1t before the
! people that the party TO fight the trusts
is the old Democratic party. That policy
means a still further healing Of the recent
| regrettable division In our ranks and con-
| tinued accretions from, the disafected and
revolving element In the camp Of the enc
my.
It may be true IN a degree that there
is also Democratic fear OF the great cor,
porations. but it is confined to. leaders
Arouse the masses to a thorough recogni-
ton that the Democratic party is the par
ty to hight the trusts. and the hold the
trusts may have on any of the leaders
will not amount to a row Of pins.
Senator Morgan could not have made a
| more unwise suggestion than that new
party be organized. and considering what
is involved IN Democratic success In 1900,
the necessity OF keepiag the party to-
gether. and the prospects of strengthening
It rrom the outside. nothing could be more
unjnsihable on the part Of those who
desire relief from the trust burden. than
encouragement of the new party IDEA.