Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-08-16
THE ANCIENT PARTY SYMBOL


south from Lancaster and you will
find the democrat party in the major
ity. Ask the average man in either Oh
these localities three questions and
the first will be answered. In nine
cases out Of ten the second and third
will be vaguely answered, ii at all.
The first question comes very easily
what party do you belong to?
Answer-Rep publican, Cor democraD
Of course. The second question-Why
do you belong to that party? Answer
i don't know; probably because my
dad did. Third question-What does
your party stand for? Answer-Well,
/ don't exactly know.
If you don't believe this to be true
90 out and try it on the first man you
meet and then try the second, third
fourth and SO on until you get tired
of asking questions. You will be con-
Yinced.
After being disilIusioned you must
not assume that the average man you
have talked to is a poor citizen, an
ignorant person or poor party man.
The fact is that he is candid and hon
est about something that confuses
even party leaders. We know we
nave IWO great p1I IlCo pOC IL" PNO
ole know what these parties stand for.
The difference in their platforms,
built to straddle and confuse, is the
difference between tWeedle-dum ana
fweedle-dee No more and no less.
The average political platform IS
mass Of unctuous platitudes and gilt
tering generalities that sound we'll put
fool nobody. The main purpose be-
hind is to get in office.
Let us consider for a moment the
answer to th second question about
dad belonged to it," and then go back
IN history almost to the foundation OF
the republic. Following the chaotic
condition at the close OF the reVolu-
zion political parties gradually form
ed. Washington, Hamilton, Jay, ana
Others of their class belonged TO the
patrician or federalist party. The IT.
recOnciliables or "Outs" OF that period
fiOundered around for a while ana
finally crystalliZed their hopes ana
sentiments under the leadership Oh
the brilliant Jefferson. 1t seems to US
in reading history that the young ma
tiOn needed the federal party in form
ing a strong government. Later on
when expansion became paramount a
self-reliant state government tOStered
by democratic principles proved very
timely as the young roots ran out ana
new states came into being. Wash
ington was far away and transporta-
ton slow in these days. There was
NO telegraph or telephone. Local gov
eminent had to be self-reliant.
During the sixty years from the be-
ginning OF JeffeTsOnian democracy up
to the Civil war democratic party
principles ruled the country and
states rights policy was pre-eminent.
The Federalist party died an early
death being succeeded by the wing
party. The Wing party elected few
presidents but in the main the demo-
Gratis ran things. Their representa-
tives in congress ran the country ana
the president was shadoWy hgure-
head, relieved occasionally by VlrlIe
figure such as Andrew Jackson. Ihen
came the rumbling Of civil war. me
issue, put off for many years, had to
be met and the idea Of strong central
government was ready to come TO
grips with the idea of strong state
government Neither side would COM
promise. collision was inevitable.
The republican party was born III
1856 1t took like wild fire. Behind
i was a noble purpose-saying the
nation. Losing the first time the re-
putlicans, under Lincoln, won III
1860. FOR the second sixty years, al
most without a break, the republicans
nave ruled the roost.
But like all parties, their purpose
served, the republican party tremen-
dously lacks the idealism OF its foun-
datiOn. The same Indictment can be
made against the opposing great
marty. The republican party is gem
orally an in party, and the demo-
crat party an "out party. The IN
party is courted by industrial ana
financial combinations that belong TO
no party except as a matter of eX-
pediency and personal gain. That IS
why the tariff remains in politics IN
stead of becoming a matter OF honest,
scientific study.
Today the symbolism surrounding
the foundation of the party dad be-
longed to" means absolutely nothing.
There is no North and no South and
no country to be saved or torn asun-
der. The compromise between states
rights and federal authority is pretty
we'll understood and not encroached
upon. Today we are racing new
symbols in political and economic al
fairs and people are taking sides. All
the while we are masquerading under
the cloak of one party or another not
because we are hypocrites but because
we have not found ourselves as yet.
The symbols we speak OF are the
various groups in the country. The
financial group and the labor group
are now at each others Threats in a
battle for the control of the rail lines.
In congress the farm bloc, another
group is Justify crying for rights and
advantages. To this group, dear
reader, you and the writer living as
we do in strictly agricultural re-
gion. belong whether we will or no.
We are forced to battle with our
group because our bread and butter
depend upon the welfare of our group.
The last group is the industrial or
manufacturing group even now con-
cerned in foisting another robber