New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-09-14
political and Party Ills.

that it has done as for the upright spirit by winch
IT'S members are animated and the essential I'M.
por,ance of the objects for which they have
leapued themselves together. The society Is but
recently organized and embraces some OF the
ablest and purest men in the State 1t consists
of persons who have become alarmed at the fear
full progress of disorder in the land,--at the evils
which grow out Of our violent party contests ano
at the tendency of come of the most popular doc
trines of fundamental politics. They have uni
ted their strength to oppose these tendencies
They protest against the slavish submission to
pu5lic opinion which marks our public E1en
statesmen they declare, arc called upon not to
follow, but to 90 in advance OF, and to Lead the
opinion of the mass. They deplore the universal
reverence paid to our forms of government to the
utter neglect of that spirit Of the people winch
must give them life. They dcnounce violently
the universal proaigacy Of public men the con-
slant appeals made in party contests to public
passion the political trickery which marks the
legislation of the land the success of base men
in obtaining places Of honor and trust the utter
lack of reverence for the Law, and of respect Tor
the Judiciary: the degradation Of the public press
and the general corruption which yearly becomes
more manifest in all departments OF public ac-
ton and which, they fear, must erelong involve IN
certain ruin all that is truly valuable in the nst-
tutions of our land. All these, and the manifold
other evils which reveal themselves IN our social
and political life, arc boldly set forth in their dec
laration of principles and the fatal results which
must inevitably follow, if nothing be done to
check their operation, are portrayed IN VIVID COL
ors and with an earncstness that could only tow
from q lofty and sincere regard for the country's
good.
The method in which they attempt to remedy
these ills is that to which, in similar instances,
resort is always had. They have formed them
selves into a party, and pledged themselves to
work together for their common objects. They
carry the matter directly to the balot-box and re-
solve to vote for Man whom they deem incom-
petent false.hearted Or selfish in his vlews-ior
no one who descends To the arts OF the dema
gogue, or uses any unworthy means to ensure
snccess-for none but the best, purest and most
capable men,-no matter to what political party
they may belong. They pledge themselves IN all
cases to consider sincerity, capacity and integrity
as always of higher worth than the principles or
measures Of any party, and always to throw aside
the latter, when they clash with the former con-
siderations.
No one who regards the true well.being of the
country and who has any clear apprehension Of
the principles On which alone it can be secured,
can fail to sympatIsc most warmly with the OBJ.
ject aimed at by this Society. The evils which
they portray, and the dangers they apprehend'
may be exaggerated: but none can deny that 10
some extent they do exist, and that their removal
is most dcvoutly to be wished. That passion has
far too great share in moulding the laws under
which VIC lve that the huctuatng impulse OF
unrepulated masses far too often usurps the place
of that calm, settled well. defined Wlll OF the
neople, which, as embodied in the forms OF the
Constitution, is here the only rightul sovereign );
that liberty with us threatens TO become license,
rot the liberty of wholesome Law, but the license
OF inconstant and ierocious passion: that the
tendrncy OF prevalent political doctrines IS down
wards, towards radicasm and anarchy-are
matters Of serious apprehension to the clearesl
sighted and most patriotic men amongst US.
These things require some remedy, beyond all
doubt, The safety of the republic demands that
the downward tendency should he checked, and
that higher and more conservative tone should
he given to the politics OF the country. But we
cannot believe that party organization and party
action are the most effective and appropriate rem
edics for these Ills. They involve something OF
the evil they seek 10 cure. Party efforts always
lead to party strifcs, and these inevitably will be-
come bitter, personal and INSCRIPTIONS in proper
ton to the depth and sincerity of the feelings
listed. This is always true, no matter how cor
rect may be the principles on which the party is
formed, or how pure the motives by which it is
moved. The reforming party, therefore, bya nat.
ural process becomes equally corrupt with those
whose corruptions it was created TO destroy, and
in its turn it needs an equally potent remedy
The principle on which this method is based is
wrong it begins by opposing itself to something
that is inevitable, AS long as one set of political
bic to another, so long must parties exst-so long
will the struggle for supremacy be continued and
violent. Evils always attend this party action
often evils of the greatest magnitude. But these
are not to be cured by opposing tho strife of par
ties which is supposed to give them birth, or b,
setting it aside as of no account. a mechanical
invention which should disregard the law OF gTav.
ity would not be more absurd or fruitess. The
tendency TO party strife and party violence mus
be guided, not warned against-must be con,
trolled not destroyed. There must always be pol
iticians in the S,ate-nen recognized as such