Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-05-09
HfARST'S NEW POLITICAL PARTY.

UEAkS } WV fUliIICAI IAkIIs
Attention has already been called to
the speech delivered in New York by
William Randolph Hearst on the
evening of April 18th, when he express
ed his dissatisfaction with existing par
ties and his determination to organize a
new party through the instrumentality
of the independence League. That Mr..
Hearst means we'll will be admitted, but
there will be q difference of opinion as
to the wisdom of his action. In joining
a party u man naturally asks two ques-
tions: First, what does the party stand
for? And second, what chance has the
party of accomplishing its purpose?
The second question is scarcely less inn
portant than the first for unless a party
has a prospect of putting its principles
into law it strives in vain, and because
it strives in vain 1t does not appeal to
the people.
OF course a party may do educational
work without dominating the govern
ment. All parties, however small, do
educational work, but the great ma
ioritv of the voters prefer to see results
rather than to do pioneer work. MIR.
Hearst complains that the democratic
party is not harmonious that is true.
But unfortunately there is no chance of
securing absolute harmony in any party
of any size. If a party has as many as
two members the conservative and radi-
cal elements will appear. Even where
all agree in principles there will be
differences of opinion as to methods and
such differences cause almost as much
trouble as differences 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 element of the
party thought him too conservative: and
before eight years elapsed a republican
congress tried to impreach a republican
president. The Independence League
Huence and it can not draw to itself any
considerable number of thinking men
without becoming a debating society.
Whether the new party is really need
ed is a matter which time alone can de-
eide. Mr. Hearst has a large personal
following and his papers exert a marked
influence. He has left the democratic
party because he has lost faith in its
power to secure reforms and the indie
pendence League will offer a political
home to those who despair of relief
through either the democratic or re-
publican parties, but it can not hope to
attract those democrats who still believe
that the democratic party can be made
an effective instrument in the hands oil
the people for the securing of remedia,
legislation; neither can it expect to at
tract reform republicans unless those
republicans believe hat the indepen
dence league can bring reform sooner
than the democrats can. We have faith
In the democratic party-not in its in
fallibility or in its freedom from mis-
takes, but in the patriotic purpose o
the rank and file of the party and in tn,
prospect of an early victory for tina
party. The democratic party has made
Hnlstakes-what party has not?-but to
day 1T stands for positive and progress
sjye democracy and in 1908 its platform
its candidates and its organization will
be such as to appeal to the conscience
and judgment of the reform element o
the country. If the democratic part,
ignores Its greatest opportunity and dis
appoints loyal democrats the Indepen
dence League will grow rapidly, bat i
The democracy does what it ought to dc
and every democrat believes that i
will-the members of the Independence
League are likely to be found support
ing the democratic ticket Just as the
members of the populist party support
ed the democratic ticket in 1896 anc
1900. In the meantime democratic pa
pers should treat Mr.. Hearst and the
new party as an ally rather than as ar
enemy. We are going in the same di
rection even though we march unde,
different banners, and there ought to be
no quarrel so long as we are trying te
cast out devils" although we invoke
the name of democracy while Mr.. Hearst
and his associates invoke the name O,
the independence League.