The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-03-25
Another Proposed Third Party.

at is clearly hinted THAI IL Taft
and a man like Harmon are the nomi-
nees of their respective parties neau
year a thir-party ticket will be put
in the field, in all probability with
Senator LaFollette, of Wisconsin In
first place." says the Augusta Chron-
icle.
"It Is said that the extrene insur-
sents Of the Republican party will
not support conservative like Taft,
and rather than do so will bolt their
party. It is claimed also tnat the So
called progressives in the Democratic
party will not line up for e man Ike
Harmon, and would prefer support
ing one more radical, even under
party name other than Democrat.
"The organization of tha National
Progressive League, with Jonathan
Bourne, of Oregon, one Of the chief
insurgents in congress, at Its head, is
said to have something ltste that in
view. It will first endeavor to pre-
vail upon the Republican party to
nominate a progressive or insurgent,
and, failing there, will support the
Democratic ticket il it happens to be
headed by man of tho Woodrow
Wilson type. Unsuccessful there,
they will form new party.
Third parties have been common
in the history Of the country. Rarely
have theiy risen to great dignity or
survived many campaigns. The two
most notable during the past fifty
years were the Greenbackars and the
Populists. Headed by Ben Butter and
General Weaver. respectively, the
first cut figure in two presidential
elections, having the support Of a
paper as conservative as the New
York Sun in one Of them. But the
vote polled, while numerous in the
aggregate, did not cut wide swath
in the electoral college.
"The second cut figure more i'm
portant, polling more thaa million
votes in 1892, and carrying several
states, holding some of them for sew
eral years. The Republican party,
itself, came into being AS a third
party" growing from mere handful
into a great political organization.
But its birth and early establishment
are accounted for by the nationwide
cateclysm it propelled.
Zone may doubt if this nation will
ever have another successful third
party. The only chance for one is
through the destruction Of one or
both of the leading parties as they
exist now, and as no other party is
bound by any organic rules OF con-
duct or policy it is reasonably certain
that the two now existing will con-
tinue to cover all the wide avenues
of public sentiment.
"In a party government like ours
it is essential that there 5e two pol1t-
ical organization of something like
equal strength. If there were three
Of relatively the same Importance,
there would be rule b2 minority
rather than the majority. Necessar-
ily, we will always have two, but no
more than two of any Importance for
any great period of time,
Tradition, If nothing more, will
sustain and perpetuate the two old
parties, unless some great cause, like
he approach of the Clvi! War, should
,ause the annihilation OF one Of them.
Sentiment out Of harmony with the
main tenets Of both will continue to
ind factional expression within
hem; and when sufficiently power
!ul will control them.
"To fear that both parties will be
controlled by the same forces anG
inspired by similar sentiments for
any considerable time Is to ignore
natural law. So long us they derive
heir power, as does tha government,
rom the citizen, just so long vii
hey, as nearly as possible, be repre-
sentative of the wishes Of the peo-
,le-the division being made along
he line OF least resistance.
mo better good could come to the
Democratic party than Tor LaFollette
and his brother insurgents to for
:hird party as an offshoot OF the Re-
,ublicans. Though they would have
he support Of some Democrats, their
main strength would come from
states that are doubtful and from
he Republicans"
The Chronicle closes the above ar
,icle, which gives us clear insight
nto third parties, and their probable
duration, by saying 1--WE believe it
would insure the election Of Demo-
ratio Dresident''