The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-07-11
/ Communicated Tor the Iowa Patriot.
POLITICAL PARTIES.

/ Communicated Tor the Iowa Patriot.
POLITICAL PARTIES.
Among all the Sextrayagances common
] / in n.; our country, and TO the age, there are
none more glaring and mischieyous, than
the partialities and prejudices Of political
4 parties. The party to which we belong
can d, no wrong, the one We oppose
cannot do any thing right. There
is saryile devotion to party; ready
and humble yielding to party dictation
and power, that is truly degrading to the
character Of freemen, and which is sub
yefsivs Of all patriotism and love d
country. National honor and glory are
forgotten, and all that proud indepen.
dence which was once the freeman's
boast, is now sunk into base servility,
/ and bending, at the footstool Of power.
j Party names and distinctions, however
dishonesty acquired, or unjustly applied,
are the watch words ofpolitical partizans,
used TO excite the ignorant, and mislead
!; the careless and unwary. They are so
! many firebrands thrown among the dry
stubble Of our inf1amable passions, to
keep society in blaze of political ex-
citetnent, to embitter our feelings towards
. each other, poison our social intercourse
debase our habits, and vitiate our morals.
And why is it thus ! Who is benefited
by this laxity Of our principles, and this
exnberant virulence, and party rancor?
The unprincipled party demogogue, who
has not merit to acquire influence or ia
vor, by the force Of talents and the
strength Of virtue, and who seeks to
wind his subtle way to power, by dis.
honestly exciting the prejudices of the
people, and riding into consequence upon
the whirlwind Of their misguided and un
ruly passions.
We every day hear the name Of Wing
and Tory banded about, as though they.
had as dr6nitea meaning now, and were
as appropriate to the present state of 20.
lltlcal parties in this country, as they
had in the days Of our revolution. There
is not an intelligent man in the nation
but who knows, that this is unjust, dis
-. d.
honorable, and inappropriate. And yet,
the cry IS reiterated from day to day;
and by those too, who should Justly bear
the opprobrium of the name themselves,
with which they seek to brand their op-
ponents. The most that can be said of
such course is, that there is much more
of political tact, and low cunning in
the pursuit, than of honor and hon
esty. 1t may serve the purpose of that
class of politicians in our country, whose
code Of ethics is founded upon the max
i'm, that "the end justi6es the means::''
but4of no one, who possesses higher,
and a purer system Of morals.
If we were in England, and were
asked, who is wing We would an.
swer-a wing is man out of power,
who is DESTROYS Of getting in. He is
one, who if he ever was in power, was !
then tory, and will be one again, if he !
ever obtains it. He is one, when in
power, who could find no place exalted
enough for his merits, consequently, was
continually disconnected and when out,
he is discontinued in every place, and
with every thing, because he cannot get
back. Heis one who finds fault with the
ministry condemns the administration
is the most loyal of all his maiesty's
most loyal subjects, and loves the people
to distraction. He has tear of pity,
ready at hand, at all times, and upon all
occasions, suited to their grievances, but
seldom has his hands in his pockets for
their relief. He advocates liberal meas
ufes and reform, to render the govern
ment unpopular, and show the superiori-
ty of his own opinions but when he is
b'nght up by the ministry-or when the
political die is thrown, if he happens 10
come up, he is sure to tighten the cords
Of oppression, to preserve the people
from their own RIGHTEOUSNESS. He con-
stantly recommends change Of measures,
when out Of power, but he cannot see
any good in it, whatever, when he is in.
He cannot discover any talents, wisdom,
honor or honesty, among the party in
powerful his vision is always clear to
discover their errors, or their faults. y
a~SS : -.