The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-11-21
THE CRISIS.

| THE CRISIS.
After the overwhelming Repolution that has
taken place in the State Of New York, il there
is one man who doubts that there is strong,
general, and abiding condemnation of the Sub
Treasury scheme Of the war that has been
waged upon the credit system, and the alarm
ing doctrines OF the loco foco school, that man
is to be pitied for his ignorance, or despised
for his obstinacy. TO ask any other proof OF
popular condemnation, beyond the resistless
current that is sweeping away the great ma
Jority of that party that brought the present
suit to the majority of the peoples will, would
be TO turn reckessly from their mandate and
their power, and to disregard every monition OF
duty and discretion. What, but these aggravated
causes could have driven SO many long-tricd
and hoary-headed republicans either into apa-
thy and silence, or into the ranks Of the oppo-
sition! What, but these alarming evils could
have changed the views and feelings OF more
than FIFTY THOUSAND voters in the State
Of New York, in less than twelve months,
and induced those who have uniformly stood
by Mr.. Van Buren, through all his gradations
of office; through good report and through
evil report; to leave him in the hour of con-
flict to his fate, and to turn their arms upon an
ignominious ally that had been led into the
field Is not this wonderful change demon
strative of the alarm that is felt at the mon
/ ctr ha~ Al. -, cx,.I
| places and have been complacently smiled
upon from other placesl Is it not convincing
that there is determination at every hazard
to.eradicate the Presidential doctrines that
sickened and diseased the whole body polite!
Is not this widespread revulsion of popular
sentiment conclusive that it has been superin-
duced by some adequate cause; and can rea-
son and common sense trace out any other
than these
Longer to persevere in pushing these doc
trines upon the country, is to provoke the re-
vulsion that is going on, as inevitably as that
effect will follow cause; and those who will
shut their eyes to the gathering storm and OBJ
stinately cling to this blind infatuation, are
destined to sink under the whitening denuncia-
ton of people too firm to be awed and too
intelligent to be duped.
Ours is government Of opinion, and when
that opinion is Significantly expressed through
all the ordinary channels, constitutional, legal
and conventional, and none more potential and
unerring than the ballot boxes, it is the pro-
vince Of all to respect it, and the obligation is
the more imperative on those, who, by that
opinion, have been translated to stations of
honor and trust.
TO resist public opinion upon points of ma
tional policy, vitality affecting the great inter-
ests of the country, after that opinioa has been
deliberately formed and strongly expressed, is
to repudiate the most sacred feature Of our
government and to disregard one of the lead
ing canons ofthe republican faith. How, then,
are we to reconcile this singular anomaly, of
vanquished minority, crying out in the name
of the republican party, and urging it as part
of their duty to stand by their arms and to
carry on the war for experiments against the
settled opinion, and the established policy of
that party and the government! They may
profess their respect for the principles of re-
publicanism, but their acts will assuredly Sc
parate them from the party whose creed they
practically deny and whose name they use
only for effect
The lines must be distinctly drawn, and the
only surety of success for the Republican
party, in our humble opinion is, separation,
distinct and absolute, now and forever, from
every species Of Loco Focoism.