The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-05-10
Mr.. Rearst's New Party.
From The Commoner.

: on the evening of April -, il
which he expressed his dissatisfac,
ton with existing parties and hi.
determination to organize new
: party through the instrumentalit,
Of the Independence League. That
Mr.. Hearst means well will be nd
mltted, but there will be differ
ence OF opinion as to the wisdom
of his action. In joining a party n
man naturally asks two questions
First, what does the party stand
fort And second, what chance has
the party of accomplishing its pur-
poser The second question is
scarcely less important than the
first, for unless party has pros
peet OF putting its principles into
law 1t strives i'll vain, and because
1t strives in vain it does not appeal
to the people.
VI course Il party may do edu.
cational work without dominating
the government, and all parties.
however small, do educational
work, but the great majority of the
voters prefer to see results rather
than to do pioneer work. Mr..
Hearst complains that the Demo.
cratic party is not harmonious
chat is true. But unfortunately
there is no chance of securing ab.
solute harmony in any party of any
size. IT party has as many as
Two members the conservative and
radical elements will appear. Even
where all agree in principles there
will be differences of opinion as to
methods aud such differences cause
almost az much trouble as differ
ences in principle. The Republican
party seemed to be a united party
when it came into power in 1861,
and yet before Lincoln had been in
Office three years the radical ele-
ment of the party thought him too
conservative; aud before eight
years elapsed a Republican congress
tried to impeacb IL Republican
president.
The Independence League must
grow in order to exert great in.
huence aud it cannot draw to itself
any considerable number OF think
ing men without becoming a debat.
ing society.
Whether the new party is really
needed is amatter which time alone
can decide. Mr.. Hearst has a large
personal following and his papers
exert marked influence. He has
eft the Democratic party because
be has lost faith in its power to Sc.
cure reforms and the Indepence
League will offer political home
% those who despair of relief
through either the Democratic or
Republican parties, but it cannot
nope to attract those Democrats
who still believe that the Demo
ratio party can be made an effect
We instrument in the hands of the
people for the securing of remedial
eglslation; nor can it hope to at ,,
ract reform Republicans unless
hose Republicans believe that the !
Independence League can bring re- !
orm sooner than the Democrats /
an.
The Commoner has faith in the |
Democratic party--not in its in
or III its freedom from
Mistakes, bat in the patriotic pur.
'ose of the rank and file of the
'arty and in the prospect of an
arly victory for that party. The !
Democratic party has made mis-. I,
nkes-what party has notl-but :
o-day it stands for positive and q
rogressive Democracy, and in t
90S its platform, its candidates .
nd its organization will be such as =
D appeal to the conscience and
Judgment of the reform element of n
he country IL the Democratic
arty ignores its greatest oppor-
unity and disappoints loyal Dem !
Gratis the independence League
I'LL grow rapidly, but if the Dem E
cracy does what it ought to do B
nd The Commoner believes that it
'ill-tbe members of the Indepen.
ence League are likely to be found h
Importing the Democratic ticket
lst as the members of the Populst
arty supported the Democratic
cket in 1896 and 1900.
In the meantime Democratic pa
ers should treat Mr.. Hearst and
lie new party as an ally rather
ian as an enemy. We are going
the same direction even though
e march under different banners,
I'd there ought to be no quarrel
long as we are trying TO east
1t devils" although we invoke
e name of Democracy while Mr.. \
earst and his associates invoke