Litchfield enquirer., 1845-11-06
POLITICAL CHANcL!NGs.


 cient moralist to his pupils; and not few Of the politicians of our day might prOftably take the maxim to themselves. There are persons ln every community, who claim to be men of prob'ty and intelligence and who pride themselves in ther '''' dependenee, who in matters of politics are no more worthy of being trusted than JuduS or a John Tyler Whether their changes are the re- suit of mental imbeclity or lack ot decision whether they spring from an overweening self-con- ceita desire to be thought wiser than their neigh bors; or whether they are produced by mere "'e'- cinayv considerations, it matters little In either case, they indicate a class of men who are unwor- thv of the confidence of the publc and still more unsafe as the repositories of power. 4 traitor fn politics $ uOt to De trusted in Gny thing. He is either unsound in heart, or lacking in that know'- edge and common sense which are essential to freeman and patriot in a republic. Commend us rather to straight-out OppOnent-one who acts as he speaks, and speaks what he thinks-than to the ever-shif1ing weathercock, or evento the adherent ot pro(essed neutrality. We always know where and how to meet an honorable opponent; but as for changling or professed neutral, they are as un-
 
 battle with them on the field where they stood yes- terday and our ammunition will most likely be wasted, for Aey are not there. They have assum- ed new position, and are valiantly waging a Quixotc fight against the measures and men which they as valiantly defended when last we met them.
 Nothing is more contemptble in the eye of an upright patriot, than sh.6a,ng politician, whose evident aim is self aggrandzement And if he Is possessed of exalted talents as we'll an unbound ed ambition, there is no more dangerous man m a republic than he. It is too true, that there are mutitudes of fvoters who can be swayed hlther and thither by the willy efforts and stormy eloquence of the demagogue: : and in closely contested elec- tion, it may and often does happen that this aoue- able pop puaton hold the balance of power. In such cases, selfish and corrupt aspirant for polti cal promotion, may wieid an influence and accom- plish ends which will endanger the purity if not the permanency ot our republican institutions - Hence we sec the necessity of combined political action; and here, we think. our opponents have given us an example which the Wings. as party. would do well to follow, at least in part In un'o'' lies the secret of their strength--the talsman of their frequent triumphs. While those who are W7sgs in principle, and feeling, and education, have too frequently suffered themselves to be drawn off to the support of the "Liberty Party," " Con- servatlsm," the s Temperance Party" " "AntiMa- sonry,' &c.,, with the hope of thereby removing or remedying supposed or real evils-our opponents have usually presented an unbroken front at the polls. True, the secret of their union is, as we think, party rather than principle; but let the Wings stand by their party Jfor the sake of their principles. We may not hone to secure perrna- nent triumph, until we have learned to harmonize our differences, and exercise spirit Reconciliation and compromise in matters of minor importance.
 
 and where private interests or wishes conflict with that, every good citizen should be ready at all times to yield his preferences. By this we do not mean that man should in any case give up what he considers an essential doctrine or truth. Very far from it. We would say to the Wings, one and all, never even jeopardise an important prin- ciple with view to the temporary triumph; for it is next to impossible to re-adopt what we have once abandoned, whatever may be the pretext.
 As we have intimated, we have little sympathy fellow feeling for that class of men who claim to have no established political opinions It is not (asthey seem to suppose) an evidence of superior wisdom and patriotism. but rather indicative of shallow and selfish mind. Under a Government like ours, every freeman should not only know ,o,ere he stands politically. but should be able to give his reasons for occupying the position which he does. He should esteem it an important duty and privilege to discharge freemans prerogative understandingly and fearlessly.