The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-20
90, rur mApIsoNIAN.
PARTY PRESIDENTS.

Il
"Those who are not for us are against US, is thu
incorporating motto of party discipline dlsci
pline which, like the bed Of Procrustes, reduces th'
short and the long TO the same stature, and admits
no standard of merit but blind conformity to It's WI
The wild storm ofpary spirit has swept with tornado
violence the institutions Of our Republic, pros
trated its prosperity and will yet howl ove its destruc
ton, unless true and firm patriotism breasts its fury
The politics of honesty and those Of party are utterly
incompatible with each other for the former would
inquire into the bearing of measures upon the public
good, and the minds of men being proverbialy vari
GUS those who might be united upon CERTAIN measures
would differ upon others, universal agreement marks
sinister pupos SCI the selfish advancement of the par
ty for its sake and this being the great end inca
sures become only worthy of consideration as they
tend this end, and the public good is lost sight OF
in the good of the party. As all organizations re-
quirc one to control and lead Them these leaders
| are those alone who permitted to think and devise
the measures of the party, ard to them every other
individual surrenders the independence Of his thought
and action the only inquiry for him to make isis
sanctioned opposed by the party to which
belong and, accordingly, it is carried out or de-
stroyed without farther investigation.
When the great mass ofthe population ofthe Union,
united under the banner of General Harrison, in OPP
position to the administration of Martin Van Buren,,
that mass composed of men Of every variety OF
political sentiment and their common bond of union,
was opposition to the selfish policy of an adminstra-
ton which had no political principles but such as led
TO the domiDancy of the party and consequently, ad
vocaled every principle according to the locality OF It's
popularity. While such trimming would answer for
time and unfortunately, too long time, il finally
became apparent to the good Of the community
and instituted the league Of honest, though differing
politicians against the unanimity of selfish and dir
honest ones. Had the Wing party, made up of SO
many different views, found any one who would have
suited the views of each Division it must have been
by deceptous course toward each component branch
of the party and it would have been only driving out
one set devoted to their good to Introduce ano-
ther of precisely the same character No man could
entertain honest political sentiments of his own, and
agree with every portion Oft then Wing or Oppose
ton party. From their own principles, no political
union could have greater reason for fobearance to-
ward the sentiments of those who from their general
popularity, were appointed the leaders of this union,
and the greatest evidence could have of the propre
y Of the selection, and the honesty of these leaders,
was given by their daring to differ from portions OF
the party which elevated them to power preferring 10
be honest men, rather than to secure popularity by
trimming to al and being unwilling to sacrifice what
they believed the best interests of the country to
their own good. Honesty in the administration of
our Government its greatest security, for erroneous
measures in the minds of all honest men will correct
themselves, but dishonest men ill seek to make every
national interest bend to the particular or OPT
Mons upon which their own power may depend. =
Therefore our great national interests much safer
in the hands of those who have the frmness and in
tegy of purpose to adhere the honest conviction
Of their own minds rather than to sell every sacred
principle to the moderation of blind party spirit
Tried by these principles, the plesent Executive has
proven itself worthy of the confidence OF every man,
who is willing commit the safety of the country to
The honesty Of its leaders w