Evening star., 1949-12-11

" VI ~
Gratis insist and some of the Re-
publicans fear. because Of long
attrition, one of two things may
be expected. Either there will be
a party with new name-a party
which includes many Of the pres
ent Republicans. independents
and perhaps some Democrats-or
we will become one-party coun-
try, with the Democrats SO firmly
intrenched they cannot be ousted.
If the latter happened-and 1t
does not yet appear likely it will
then the country eventually would
be in for some kind Of totalitarian
government.
Party Names Have Changed
The two-party political system
has persisted in this country for
a century and a half. The names
of the major parties have changed
from time to time. The Demo-
cratic Party, whose father was
Thomas Jefferson, was originally
called the Republican Party. Then
it shifted to the Democratic-Re-
publican Party. and finally to
Democratic Party. The opposition
party was first known as the Fed
eralist Party, then the Wing Par
ty and now the Republican Party.
The Jeffersonian Democrats
(called Republicans at the start)
were in power for "a years con-
tinuously. There was a four-year
interruption, when John Quincy
Adams was elected over Andrew
Jackson. Adams was really an in
dependent who didn't care for
Jackson. Jackson and the Demo-
Gratis took over, after four years Of
the Adams administration and
held on for another IL years.
William Henry Harrison, Whig-
the opposition had become the
Whig Party-was elected. He was
succeeded by Democrat, Polk. and
a Whig. Zachary Taylor, came
next. Taylor, a successful general
in the War with Mexico, was seized
upon by the Wings as their can
didate for President, although he
had never been in politics, just
as the Democrats in 1948 tried to
drag Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower
into the presidential race as their
candidate, and as the Republicans
seem to be trying to do for 1852.
The next eight years after the
close of the term for which Taylor
had been elected the Democrats
were in power. Then came Abra-
ham Lincoln. the first Republican
President.
The slavery question tore the
Democ lie Party wide open, and
did tie same to the Wing Party
Out of the chaos emerged the
Republican Party-a peoples party
if there ever was one. The Whig
Party vanished, but the Wings OF
the North went over to the Re-
publican Party.
Wilson Broke Through
Except for Cleveland's two terms
in the White House. the Republi-
cans had control Of the National
Government from 1851 until 1918
when Woodrow Wilson took over
for the Democrats. In other words,
the Republicans were in power "A
years to 8 for the Democrats In
that period. g. Wilson had eight
years, and next the Republicans
controlled for 12-until Franklin
D. Roosevelt entered the White
House in 1888.
Never was the Democratic Party
at a lower ebb-since the Civil War
peliod-than Immediately after its
defeat at the polls in 1928. Alfred
E. Smith. Governor of New York.
had been terribly beaten, even
losing five States Of the "solid
South" The party was badly split
over the wet and dry question.
But almost In the twinkling Of an
eye. the political situation changed,
due to an economic upheaval. The
great depression. which set In in
November, 1929. wrecked the Re-
publican Party In 1882.
If the Republican Party. which
was riding high, wide and hand
some In 1928 and early 1929. could
be thrown out on its ear so quick
ly. it Is quite apparent that a
fate could overtake the
Democrats in 1952-should the
people become disgruntled. At
present the Democrats are on top
Of the world. With deficits
by billions Of dollars.
however. and the danger OF dis
astrous imitation. anything might
happen. Should there come an
other depression, or even a seri-
Gus recession in business and en-
ployment. the picture might
change overnight. Already people
are restive because Of high prices
which will not 60 down-and
because Of high taxes, which the
Truman administration has been
trying to increase rather than de-
crease.
Republican members Of Con-
yress who have returned to Wash
ington after spending weeks in
their home States profess to be
encouraged-whereas earlier in
the year they were fat on their
backs. They insist that the "peo-
ole back home" are becoming dis
satisfied with what goes on in
Washington; that they are fearful
If the growing public debt, at a
time when the country Is more
IA