Bewildered America
Some indication of the state of mind of the bewildered public of America is given in an article in another column by an experienced observer who has just returned from the United States. The situation being what it is, the appeal of Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler and others for a political truce, and of Dr. Butler personally for the formation of a new Liberal Party which shall unite men of purpose and progressive spirit in both the Republi- can and Democratic camps, is intelligible enough. But the two-party system is as fundamental an element in American politics as the constitution itself, and all attempts of new groups to organize themselves effectively —Populists, " Know-Nothing " Party, Non-Partisan League, even Progressives under Roosevelt—have left Republicans and Democrats to divide the dominion undisturbed, though the Socialist Party does run Presi- dential candidates. In any case a Presidential year is the last of all moments to choose for launching a secession movement. After November the situation may be different, but there is little in America's history to suggest
that it will be. * * * *
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