The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-07-24
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES


l. and in the offing may help to produce
some logic in our political situation. Since 1876,
the divisions between Republican and Demo-
Gratis have been mainly concerned with one who
would scoop up the spoils. There have been few
vital difference in principles and methods, save
for an occasional and unusual campaign like
that Of 1896
The American Revolution brought together
highly incongruous elements. Jefferson wrote the
Declaration of Independence and Hamilton was
an officer on WaShington'S staff. But shortly
after the Revolution a logical party lineup
sprang into being. The conservative property
interests lined up behind Hamilton and the
Federalists, while jefferson and his followers in
the neutrality-suspicious. party tried to pre-
serve some of the liberal ideals and policies for
which they had fought during the Revolution.
These early party differences evaporated in
generation and the followers of both Jefferson
and Hamilton surrendered to nationaliSm, the
development of the West and a tariff system.
1t was not long, however, before new eco
nomic forces produced another rational party
division. The Industrial Revolution brought
oppressed factory workers to New England and
other Northeastern states, while the settlement
OF the West created a Self-reliant and almost
radical pioneer population which diStruSted the
'money-bagS" of the East Andrew Jackson and
his new Democratic party appeared in 1923 as
champions of the workers and frontersmen
Opposing it were the Wings the party of early
American capitalism, strong supporters of the
United States Bank and of public improvements
TT was not long, however, before the Demo-
l. crat-Whig rivalry was undermined by eco
nonlic changes. The conservative slavocracy of
the South captured the Democratic party from
the workers and pioneers. If Northern Wings
were inclined to oppose slavery. the Southern
Wings ardently supported it. The compromise
of 1850 marked the last effort to perpetuate an
increasingly illogical party division.
In 1885, new party lineup came into being
which once more conformed to reality Against
the Democratic party. now dominated by the
great slavery interests, was now set off a new
and radical Republican party drawn chiefly
from Eastern workers and from the settlers in
the new West It's social basis was much like
that of the early Democratic party under Jack
son. 1t was progressive, idealistic and strongly
anti-slavery.
The Civil War completely altered the charac-
ter of the Republican party. 1t was successfully
captured by the business interests which had
fattened and become intrenched during the war
decade. 1t became party of the vested business
interests and has remained such ever since.
For short time however. marked changes
in the character of the Democratic party pre-
served some semblance of realistic party strife.
The Democratic party emerged from the Civil
War shorn of the slavery octopus and trans
formed into liberal reformed party.
Under an able leader, Samuel j. Tilden, it
~ polled a majority of the vote in 1876 If
the Republicans had not been able to Use the
Army in the South to steal the election away
from Tilden, the party history of the United
States since 1876 might have been far different
and far more constructive.
The theft Of the presidency from Tilden and
the Democrats all but stihed idealism and
progress in the Democratic party Cleveland
was an honest man and a rugged personality
but he was not even progressive to say
nothing of a radical. Capitalism gently but
firmly extended its grip over both the major
parties and has never loosened it to any ex-
tent since.
Every recent effort to develop new and
more rational party lineup has thus far come
from progreSSiveS. Here we have had number
Of temporary spurts such as the Granger, Green
back, Mugwump, Populist Bull Moose and La
Toilette movements. But they have all been
suppressed, or else absorbed in part within the
old parties and then strangled.
The Republican-Democratic lineup was never
more Senseless and meaningless than it is in the
year 1885 Rank-and-file Democrats distrust
Roosevelts liberalism and long for "normalcy"
as much as Republican henchmen. The younger
and more liberal Republicans chafe under the
leadership of such viSionleSS men as Herbert
Hoover and the party hacks and warehouses. T.
is high time that we had a party division viii III
will allow an honest man to choose between
progress and reaction rather than between two
organizations of grafterS and time-Servers.