The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1907-06-01
THIRD PARTIES A FAILURE.
Reforms Are Not Achieved by lnda
pendent Efforts.

No third party has ever been suc
cessful in electing a president OF the
United States, and probably never
will, unless both of the two principal
parties refuse to advocate a reform
that the popular mind is intent on
achieving. Such a condition is unlike
ly to occur, for the minority party is
ever on the lookout for an opportunity
to take up such reforms as any great
body of the people are demanding
that do not antagoniZe fundamental
principles. The recent declaration Of
Mr.. Hearst is that neither one of the
old parties stands to-day for any par
ticular principle" and therefore Mr..
Hearst's party, the Independence
league, created for his especial glori-
fication, is to fill up the hiatus that he
says the old parties refuse to fill.
Mr.. Hearst bases his advocacy of
his new party on the fact that all
voters calling themselves Democrats
are not agreed on the i~ntricacies of
control the trusts, and he declares
the Republicans are also divided On
that and other issues. If Mr.. Hearst
is going to confine the membership of
his league to voters who are entirely
agreed on the issues he intends they
shall stand for, he will find his follow
ing a small one, indeed. We have
seen the Hearst League in New York
seriously divided on the questions of
candidates, leaders and issues, and If
the league ever exhibits any strength
in other states there will be, no doubt,
similar division Of opinion.
The Democratic party Is and always
has been the party Of the people,
vOicing their desires and aspirations
and often advocating reforms in ad-
vance of their general acceptance.
But the rule of the majority must
prevail, even in the Hearst minority
and cannot expect to control policies
until a majority have agreed to adopt
what Mr.. Hearst desires.
What does the independence league
stand for? What great principle has
it so far battled for that it is compe-
tent " ulCldJc W tHC OHIs patty lIoI
has stood the stress from the time Of
Jefferson to now? There is a strong
suspicion that Mr.. Hearst has 'eXpend-
ed his money to create the league for
his T sOnal advantage, and that If
the members should indicate their dis
approval of his ambition or policies,
It would be thrown overheard like an
old shoe and another organization Gre
ated that would be more subservient
to his desires. AS the independence
league has not yet had the opportunity
of declaring its national policies, what
it will stand for is yet uncertain, but
it is safe to say that any declaration
it may make must be founded on the
broad and comprehensive principles
of Democracy, or it could not exist as
a party of the people.
The next Democratic national con-
ventiOn is now over one year OF and
there is ample time for Mr.. Hearst
or the league to impress the pubic
mind with any reform he may have in
view and bring it to the test of adop-
ton or rejection as the majority may
decide. That is the privilege of every
Democrat and the only way any politi-
cal organization can be successfully
run. All the Democratic party asks is
that after the majority has decided
what shall be the issues OF the cam.
paign that those who have participate
ed in the election of delegates shall
accept the decision Of the majority, il
honestly expressed. 1t is perhaps for
tunate for the Democratic party that
Mr.. Hearst has made this early dec
laratiOn of his intention to act indie
pendently, rather than to inject into
the campaign for delegates his own
ambition to be the nominee for presl'
dent.
The present indications now are
that another and greater personality
is the choice Of the great majority OF
Democrats and there V was great
err unanimity on the issues that Will
be presented for the voter:V OF the
United States to decide upon.