The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1913-01-31

inc Ieal meaning or the DUH mo0H
party Not to teach the great prin
ciples Of fundamental democracy. that
they claimed they upheld; not TO up
hold social and industrial Justice
but TO GET PUBLIC OFFICE!
That was the raison d'etre of the
Roosevelt bolt. That was the raison
d'etre OF the support of Woodruff and
Perkins and Munsey They were ont
of office and wanted to get into Of
flee. They had no issue, so they stole
the splendid progressivism that was
In the air and they prostituted it to
their own selfish ends.
Let those who thought that Mum
sey, exploiter of the steel slaves. was
real social reformer read his plea
for an amalgamation of the party of
Barnes, Penrose and Crane with the
party of Brown, Finn and Woodruff
into a new liberal party. If you be-
lieve in the conversion of Pendergast
to real liberalism, read his enthusiast
tic Endorsement of this sell-out.
Let us lay down one political axiom.
A militant, active minority is far
more powerful than a dormant MAORI
ty A million fighting socialist voters
will do more for industrial and social
justice than four million progressives
who have no weil-defined aim. His
tory teaches US just that. The splen-
did, virile, populist movement was de-
stroyed by its marvellous success in
1892 One million votes, twenty-five
members Of the ELECTORAL college,
were splendid mediums for trading.
And the day that the thought of trad
ing entered the minds of the popu-
lists, the movement lay down and
died, never to be resucitated. The
steadily growing socialist party,
which never surrenders, never COM
promises one jot or title, never gives
up one iota of it's fundamental prin-
ciples, will sweep the country long
after the enthusiasm for social reform
will have left the bull moose and when
it will be merely as another repubH-
can party.
For let this be here noted: One of
two things is necessary for the life of
any political party-deep, abiding
principles or public office. The demo-
Gratis were kept alive all these lean
and hungry years by the control of
the cities and the strangle-hold on the
South. Were it not for Tammany Loaf
the party of Tilden and of Silas
Wright &c, &C. would long since
have died in New York. Were it not
for the hold on the federal govern
ment, the party of Lincoln and of
Grant &c, &C. would long since
have died in the nation. And were it'll
not for its answering devotion to the
principles of industrial socialism, the
socialist party would now be but a
fragrant memory.
We care not what are the details of
Munsey's plan. We care not if it sue
ceeds or not; if a holding party,
called the liberal party, be formed to
control 81 per cent of the capital
stock of each of the republican and
progressive parties. What interests
the socialists is this-that Munsey
has let the cat out of the bag. At the
recent Chicago conference Roosevelt |
advanced to the edge of the platform
and called Munsey by name, telling
him to his face, in the presence of the
whole party in national conference as
sembled that he was one of the bene-
factors of the party; that the party
owes much to him; that the party will
be forever grateful to him.
That party has been officeless for
five months, and Munsey is discour-
aged. The prospect of public Office
pabulum, pie-is shimmering away
off in the distance. Hence he is eager
to patch up differences with the hid
eous corruption of Barnes and Pen
rose, with the party that is stepped in
corruption, with the thieves who
ought to be in Jail, with the crooks;
with the republican party of choice
Roosevelt invectiye.
We socialists can afford to be con-
tent. We see a steady march of
twenty years, from 21,194 votes in
1892, to 9O1,723 votes in 1912,
and a general capturing of Of
fees not yet in sight And we know
that the driving force of the red army
is far greater than fifty socialists in
Congress if elected on fusion ticket
of compromise with capitalism! There
is less pie in it. There is less money.
But the devotion of men and women
to a great ideal, a great cause, is the
most powerful thing in the world.
Bismark learned it. Gar Nicholas Is
learning it. We know it.
This surrender of Munsey is ealeu-
lated to fill the hearts of socialists
with Joy. 1t means that the liberals
and progresslves who have been be-