Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-09-01
A No-Principlcd and Janus. faced
Party.

A No.Princirlcd and Janus. faced
Party.
Nothing, perhaps, Of recent or remote
occurrence in the politics Of this nation, il
more characteristic Of a deplorable lack o
firm and uniform principle on the part O
the opposition, than the attempt Of . Po--
ton Of their party leaders to elevate an in.
dividual TO the Presidency Of whose pc.
litical views, relative TO the administra-
ton of public affairs, they are themselves
in the most profound midnight darkness
With the exception Of aiew states where
they are in safe majority, emo declara.
ton Of principles for the public eye" has
been both their standing motto and the man
tel Of charity, behind which they have ev.
er attempted 10 conceal multitude Of sin:
meditated against the public veal. Does
an enquiring public ask one Of these whis
journalists, "what are your views rela
tive to the best and wisest system for tht
administration Of public affairs, and wha
measures will be carried out by yonr can
didate, II elected?"- The is told that the
people are tired Of party: that, to reform it.
abnse, they have Diet ermined, as re.alia-
tory measure, to give i'll their blind and
4
needless obedience 10 men. and those, too,
of whose political opinions they are not
only grossly ignorant, but from whom they
are told that it is wrong to exact, or even
ask, pledge that they will administer
the government in accordance with the
views of those by whom they are placed
in power.
That the people are tired of party, no
one, in view Of the miserable shutting Of
the wing partizan leaders, can for a mo-
ment doubt, without in his own mind i'm
pugning their character for intelligence
and honesty. But it does not follow, as
necessary or even natural consequence
that they are tired of all partizan organi-
~zation; or yet that they will visit the ini
quities Of one party upon the heads ofthe
members of another, and also Of themselves,
through a reputation of their principles.
By no means. All such calculations, be-
sides being otherwise falsely based, are
founded upon supposi'ien, too broadly
implied to be mistaken, that the mass Of
the people are either destitute of, or care
but little for principles, and will sacrifice
them upon the dark altar Of another, and a
stronger idoltary-that of man worship.
These calculations on the part Of our OPP
ponents, are as absurd and none the less
doomed to inevitable disappointment. in the
sequel, than is that which they adduce as
their natural sequence, viz: that het-
erogeneous mass of individuals, is about to
strike death blow 10 party. through the
instrumentality Of that most Objectionable
and contradictory of all party organizations
-one not founded upon principle.
That the democratic party are entirely
united upon oil measures of policy which
are likely to be brought before the people
in the approaching Presidential contest,
we are not prone to assert. Such an as
sertion would prove US the prevericators
our opponents have shown themselves to
be. What we wish to establish and that
which is perfectly demonstrable is, that
while the democratic party are acting in
unison in view of certain fixed and
uniform principles only measure up
on which they do not all cordially har-
monlze being one upon which the con-
stitution sets them high example for
compromise and concession-the mod
ern federal party throughout the Union
DO not hold one great national principle
in common. And this, together with a
consciousness Of weakness, and perhaps,
OF the badness of their cause, prevents an
avowal Of principles by their willy leaders.
That such is the case, let facts testify:
The democratic party have succeeded
in establishing the present prosperous In
dependent Treasury System, with the op-
erations Of which they are entirely salts
ned A portion Of the wing party desire
and contend for National Bank to regu-
late both the government and the exchan-
ges, while another portion declare such an
institution an obsolete idea."
Another measure Of the democratic par.
~ lsthe present revenue Tariff, Of which,
though yet in the infancy of its operation,
they are none the less proud, inasmuch as
At has already been demonstrated, that it
Will more than suffice to pay the ordina-
~ expenses Of the government. A por-
ton OF the opposition are opposed to this
measure, and contend for High Protec.
tive Tariff and Home Market. while