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it was an issue that persisted in keeping alive and that would
not down； for it was an issue between right and wrong。 Three
times the great Clay maneuvered to outflank his opponents over
the smoldering fires of the slaver issue； but he died before the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise gave the death…blow to his
loosely gathered coalition。 Webster； too； and Calhoun； the other
members of that brilliant trinity which represented the genius of
Constitutional Unionism； of States Rights； and of Conciliation；
passed away before the issue was squarely faced by a new party
organized for the purpose of opposing the further expansion of
slavery。
This new organization； the Republican party； rapidly assumed form
and solidarity。 It was composed of Northern Whigs； of
anti…slavery Democrats； and of members of several minor groups；
such as the Know…Nothing or American party； the Liberty party；
and included as well some of the despised Abolitionists。 The vote
for Fremont； its first presidential candidate； in 1866； showed it
to be a sectional party； confined to the North。 But the definite
recognition of slavery as an issue by an opposition party had a
profound effect upon the Democrats。 Their Southern wing now
promptly assumed an uncompromising attitude； which； in 1860；
split the party into factions。 The Southern wing named
Breckinridge； the Northern wing named Stephen A。 Douglas； while
many Democrats as well as Whigs took refuge in a third party；
calling itself the Constitutional Union； which named John Bell。
This division cost the Democrats the election； for； under the
unique and inspiring leadership of Abraham Lincoln； the
Republicans rallied the anti…slavery forces of the North and won。
Slavery not only racked the parties and caused new alignments； it
racked and split the Union。 It is one of the remarkable phenomena
of our political history that the Civil War did not destroy the
Democratic party； though the Southern chieftains of that party
utterly lost their cause。 The reason is that the party never was
as purely a Southern as the Republican was a Northern party。
Moreover； the arrogance and blunders of the Republican leaders
during the days of Reconstruction helped to keep it alive。 A
baneful political heritage has been handed down to us from the
Civil Warthe solid South。 It overturns the national balance of
parties； perpetuates a pernicious sectionalism； and deprives the
South of that bipartizan rivalry which keeps open the currents of
political life。
Since the Civil War the struggle between the two dominant parties
has been largely a struggle between the Ins and the Outs。 The
issues that have divided them have been more apparent than real。
The tariff； the civil service； the trusts； and the long list of
other 〃issues〃 do not denote fundamental differences； but only
variations of degree。 Never in any election during this long
interval has there been definitely at stake a great national
principle； save for the currency issue of 1896 and the colonial
question following the War with Spain。 The revolt of the
Progressives in 1912 had a character of its own； but neither of
the old parties squarely joined issue with the Progressives in
the contest which followed。 The presidential campaign of 1916
afforded an opportunity to place on trial before the people a
great cause； for there undoubtedly existed then in the country
two great and opposing sides of public opinionone for and the
other against war with Germany。 Here again； however； the issue
was not joined but was adroitly evaded by both the candidates。
None the less there has been a difference between the two great
parties。 The Republican party has been avowedly nationalistic；
imperialistic； and in favor of a vigorous constructive foreign
policy。 The Democratic party has generally accepted the lukewarm
international policy of Jefferson and the exaltation of the
locality and the plain individual as championed by Jackson。 Thus；
though in a somewhat intangible and variable form； the doctrinal
distinctions between Hamilton and Jefferson have survived。
In the emergence of new issues； new parties are born。 But it is
one of the singular characteristics of the American party system
that third parties are abortive。 Their adherents serve mainly as
evangelists； crying their social and economic gospel in the
political wilderness。 If the issues are vital； they are gradually
absorbed by the older parties。
Before the Civil War several sporadic parties were formed。 The
most unique was the Anti…Masonic party。 It flourished on the
hysteria caused by the abduction of William Morgan of Batavia； in
western New York； in 1826。 Morgan had written a book purporting
to lay bare the secrets of Freemasonry。 His mysterious
disappearance was laid at the doors of leading Freemasons； and it
was alleged that members of this order placed their secret
obligations above their duties as citizens and were hence unfit
for public office。 The movement became impressive in
Pennsylvania； Vermont； Massachusetts； Ohio； and New York。 It
served to introduce Seward and Fillmore into politics。 Even a
national party was organized； and William Wirt； of Maryland； a
distinguished lawyer； was nominated for President。 He received；
however； only the electoral votes of Vermont。 The excitement soon
cooled； and the party disappeared。
The American or Know…Nothing party had for its slogan 〃America
for Americans；〃 and was a considerable factor in certain
localities； especially in New York and the Middle States； from
1853 to 1856。 The Free Soil party； espousing the cause of slavery
restriction； named Martin Van Buren as its presidential candidate
and polled enough votes in the election of 1848 to defeat Cass；
the Democratic candidate。 It did not survive the election of
1852； but its essential principle was adopted by the Republican
party。
Since the Civil War； the currency question has twice given life
to third…party movements。 The Greenbacks of 1876…1884 and the
Populists of the 90's were both of the West。 Both carried on for
a few years a vigorous crusade； and both were absorbed by the
older parties as the currency question assumed concrete form and
became g commanding political issue。 Since 1872； the
Prohibitionists have named national tickets。 Their question；
which was always dodged by the dominant parties； is now rapidly
nearing a solution。
The one apparently unreconcilable element in our political life
is the socialistic or labor party。 Never of great importance in
any national election； the various labor parties have been of
considerable influence in local politics。 Because of its
magnitude； the labor vote has always been courted by Democrats
and Republicans with equal ardor but with varying success。
CHAPTER II。 THE RISE OF THE MACHINE
Ideas or principles alone； however eloquently and insistently
proclaimed； will not make a party。 There must be organization。
Thus we have two distinct practical phases of American party
politics： one regards the party as an agency of the electorate； a
necessary organ of democracy； the other； the party as an
organization； an army determined to achieve certain conquests。
Every party ha