The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-07-23
From Me Cincinnati Gazette.
No-Partx -Cnndidntes.

which has all at once taken DOS
ession of a large and influential pOrtion
'fthe political press of the United States.
are the more at a loss to compre-
lend this sudden conversion from par-
isanship, because we have hitherto SUD-
that at least one of the two great
in this country based itself on
principles, in the trump oil defeat Of
which, in its opinion, was involved the
welfare or the adversely of the people,
We have had no idea that this party was
so plant in its spirit, or so easy in its or
that it could in a moment
furl its standard of the White Rose, and
unroll that of the Red; and least Of all
have we thought it ready or willing for a
contingency, in which the c~ontending
factions of York and Lancaster might
embrace within its fields. We have been
in the habit of regarding its assertion Of
principles, as all expression of its faith
in certain lines of policy, and certain
measures, as necessary to the welfare of
the country if not required by a patriotic
regard for the safety of the Union. We
have never supposed that the time would
come when those great and conservative
principles, which have many stern and
unyielding embodiments in this party,
could be viewed with an Indifference
which would permit them to be sudden
ly thrown aside, or for the nonce placed
in a state of allegiance. We have be-
lieved them to be, of the party to which
we refer, the cause.-the basis-the es-
sence; and of the moral and numerical!
power which that party represents, the
Giving soul" the "breathing harmony"
In allthis, have we been right or have
we been wrongl If wrOng, then itmay
be there is nothing remarkable in the
newborn zeal for No-Partyism of which
we have made mention. If right, then
is this newborn zeal totally inexplica-
bic to us, through any rules of reasoning
with which we are acquainted, or by any
test of patriotism that we can apply. Re-
garding PARTY as the very essence Of
FREEDOM, we look upon its principles as
things not Of a day, but of an epoch. In
the progress of nations changes occur,
which render things, applicable and in
~dispensable at one period, inapplicable
and obsolete at another. But this result
is wrought out with the gradual march Of
civilization, or the somewhat rapid move
ments d~ecadence. 1t is not one of those
CONCLUSIONS" that can be dumped at"
unfelt and unforeseen by people in its
midst. wondered at by all beyond its in
~iuence.
While we thus acknowledge that prin-
ciples, in their application to nations or
parties, are not perpetual, we insist that
they are stable. That which can be put
on and put off at the will of the wearer,
like clothes as the fashion changes, does
not rise to.the dignity even of practice,
much less to that of a settled course Of
action. Are the principles of the two
great American parties of this character?
Is there nothing in their a%ntagonism
which a popular ia 1orite cannot re reconcile?
Have they for a generation arrayed one
portion of the people of tho United States
against another portion, in unyielding
and often most bitter hostility, only to be
laid aside now, under the absurd and de-
~lusive pretext Of "giving the country a
breathing spelll" Has there really been
in the opposition of American parties, so
little honest and enlightened patriotism,
that a truce may be sounded at a time
like the present, while few If any ofthe
causes of this opposition have been re-
moved.
For ourselves, we have no faith in this
"No Party" sentiment which has so sud
denly been sprung upon the people,
There is a siren tone in it, but it is delu-
sive. 1t has q look of peace, but it is
charged with strife. We believe that
the leading parties have been arrayed a.
gainst each other on principle. and with
out an abandonment of principle, by n
or the other, how can they've will not
say affiliate, for that is not contemplated
how can they cease to assert the truths
they believe, ever for a day, not to speak
of a presidential terml One of these
parties we may be permitted to speak
for. 1t has been contending for what it
believes to be the right. 1t has supper
ted consistently, though not with crow
ming success, q certain line of measures,
whichit has supposed to be necessary to
the securing of that right. Is it willing
now to forego its noble struggle-"come
right, come wrong" Orhasit made up
its mind to abandon these measures, and
seek to attain through other means the
end at which it has aimed?-Neither!-
We answer unhesitatingly, neither! Re-
memboring its past struggles, and true to
its guiding faith, it looks not in the future
to anything but continued, honest, patri-
otto effort, to achieve the work it has in
hand.
"No-Party" ca ndidacy, is not Wig
candidacy. And this will be found out
by these who may doubt it, when the day
of trial arrives. The leading principles
of the Wings have been to often and too
clearly presented and their requirements
|, too plainly made known for any one So
riously to calculate upon their suffrages,
who does not harmonize with them in
action. And we cannot believe that any
one of the distinguished men now spok-
en- Of in connection with the next Presi-
dency, is looking or hoping for the hap
/, pening of a contingency, which may place