Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-28
MONDAY, MAY %, 1882

The following article from tic I've" io'h
Daily Advertiser, read dispassionately, will at
ford matter for much reflection. 1t has led US in
to a train of thoughts, which, although we have
not room for their expression to day, we may
present at another time We offer it now with.
out comment:
Fashionable Republicans .--There is no
word in the English language that we are &C
Quainted with, the meaning OF which IS suscept-
ible Of greater variety Of changes, or which has
been used to characterize more different sorts OF
people. than that Of "kepubican." During
the revolutionary war, aad up to the time when
the new Constitutions was formed, the political
creeds of those who commenced, prosecuted aud
Accomplished the independence of the country,
were all considered as republican. After the es-
tablishment of the Federal government, parties
beyan To form; and when Mr.. Jefferson placed
himself AZ the head Of one of them, with an adj
dress peculiar 10 himself, he denominated his
friends and followers "repuJhco,s. In his
c.lebr ated letter to the Italian Mazzei. when
speakinp of the affairs of the Union. he says
owe have against as republicans, the Executive
The Judiciary" &c. At the time Gen. Wash.
ington was the Executive: and it would seem by
fair inference, that Mr.. Jefferson did not con-
slider Gen. Washington republican according
TO his understanding of the term. This single
expression in that letter, fixed the name OF re-
publican upon Mr.. Jeiferson's party; and to keep
up the distinction they applied that OF monarch
ISIS TO the party Of which General Washington
Mas the acknowledged head.
In process of time, Mr.. Madison came to the
head Of the governments; and meeting with an
opposition, ne led off the "rePublican party"
By and by, his opponents turned their attention
a .l,Ia far
among the ranks of the Jeffersonian "republi-
cans" aud they made choice of the late Dewitt
Clinton for that purpose. Mr.. Clinton had al.
ways been one Of the most Jealous and devoted
members Of the republican party'' under the
above mentioned designation, and wien the OPP
ponents Of Madison concluded TO make choice OF
him as their candidate, it was done without any
concert between the persons who formed that
conclusion, and himself. Yet, the moment 1t
was ascertained that they had in contemplation
TO vote for hun, he was denounced by his former
associates as anti-republican, and his reputation
was assailed with all manner OF calumny and
abuse, froa the effects which he had not entirely
recovered at the day OF his death. -"
For the last twenty years, there has been 40
attempt to put UP federal candidate tor the
chief magistracy; hut whenever there has been
rival candidate, he has been taken from the par
Nv winch WAS OIlStldiiN SduSu iSPuuhSoh' SuSh
a man, whoever he might be, and whatever ca.
reer, in politics he might previously have run,
was at once stigmatised as federalist, and an
aristocrat This was the practise from dynasty
70 dynasty-the man held up by certain leaders,
and sustained by particular influence, was al
WAYS, "repubcan;'' while his rival, though
ne might have supported all unsullied reputation
with the party as to his republcanism, up to the
moment of his selection as candidate, was In
stantly transformed into different being, stig-
natised vita all the foul reprOaches that could
be heaped upon him, and hunted down as a fe.
deralist. an aristocrat, and monarchist.
Until the year 1907, Mr.. John Quincy Adams
had been considered as federallst. ln the course
os that year. he left his former political associates,
and united himself with Mr. Jefferson and hss
,.republIcans." The acquisition OF man Of
his character and talents was considered as o
preat Importance to the "republican'' party, and
he was received into their fellowship with
warmth aud cordiality. Offices were soon heap
ed upon him, and he was successfully Ambassador
Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to dit
ferent Courts, Secretary OF State, and President
of. the United States. Up to his election to the
last mentioned office, he was the object OF " re
pabIican'' praise and admiration-the,r pride and
and their boast But the moment he assembled
the chair of State, he was marked for destruction:
ard the man whom Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Ma
olson had honored with the most splendid mis-
slons in the gift of the government. whom Mr.
Monroe had constituted his chief counsellor, and
nlaced at the head of the department OF State.
was charged with his old federal sins, IN more
rancorous degree, than if he had never left the
federal party; and when he became candidate
for reelection to the chief magistracy, ne was
treated as a rival to General Jackson, with as
much scurrilous abuse, as If he had never been
adopted in the .'republican family"
The history of Mr.. Clay is very similar, ex-
cept that he was always republican" and ne
YER was a federalist But it is Of no use to him.
Hs was, like. Mr. Adams. opposed to General
Jackson; and that put an end to all claims OF IRE
nublicanlsm" His former services in the party,
even the agency he had in making the late-war
with Great Britain, were all forgotten, and he
was stamped with the fatal badge OF Ant'-repab-
Iicanism; and for the last seven years. he has