Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1848-07-21
TUESDAY EVENING, JULY IS, 1913
Political Integrity.

"" P'''o"' p"''s w oc !" O's"h'H"-
ton for the purpose of carrying out certain po-
l'tical principles. The object of a party does
not centre in itself, as a party, but in the prin-
ciples on which it is based.
The principles, not the party, then, are at
stake, whenever the party is arrayed for contest.
circumstances may give a portion of the polit-
zeal creed of a party greater prominence at one
time than another, and these circumstances may
be beyond the control of human power. This
is often the case. And when it happens that in
the position of a party for the time being, there
Is less prominence given to certain measures
than to others, when a part is especially urged
as the ground of hope for the success of the
mtoIc, there must, as a matter of course, be dis
appointment to those who have tagged them
selves to some of the principles of a party, and
have not planted themselves on the whole plat
form. Then must also ensue a temporary disaf-
fiction, among those who have not learned that
there is a time for all things, and that no party
will prove false TO its principles, when there is
any reasonable hope or expectation for imme-
date or ultimate success.
Now there is a certain consistency in the
character of every man, and in the expression
of those principles by which every body of men
profess to be governed, in their collective ca
pacity. From a knowledge of these principles,
it can be safely predicaled what will be the ac-
ton of a man, or a body of men, in a given
case.
1t is truc that this consistency of character
and principle which underlies every manifesto.
ton of the plans and purposes of men, can be
depended upon. if only interpreted in the light
of a knowledge of human nature.
There are some who cannot take this broad
view Of the case, and plant themselves on the
logical and rational necessity, which there exists
in the nature Of the human mind, of consistency,
more espeti,lly in the actions Of all public bod
les! They cannot, or will not see, that if GER
tain conservative principles predominant, certain
others Of kundrcd spirit must as a matter Of ne
ceSSity be at the same time effeclually at work.
A spirit of radicalism is at work in our coun-
try which would fain force reforms, before the
time has come wherein the evil can be done
away with, without at the same time destroying
much that is good. This spirit is working it.
self out into the so called Liberty party. Its
creed is Down with Slavery" Truly Slave
ry is an evil. Would that we were well rid OF
it. But are their no other evils to be remedied ?
Are there no other interests. save those of the
Slave, to be protected? Ask the "Liberty'
man concerning Commerce, Internal Improve.
ments, Trade, Manufactures, National Finances
Territorial Government, our relations with For.
eign Powers, our institutions of Learning and
Religion, and his cry is still the same Down
with Slavery" He is " the friend of the Slave
but aside from the Slave, all else may literally
go to he DerH.
We bring up this as an instance of what mer
reach when they cast themselves loose from the
broad and comprehensive platform of %politica
principles, which seeks to embrace all the inter
ests o! the country, and which, in case the part,
protesting these principles comes into power
provides for a government of the whole nation
and not for a narrow and slavish subserviency
to a single minor end, and plant themselves
upon a single principle as the all in all. Whcr
a single principle is thus isolated it ceases to be
"a principle, and becomes a hobby.
Can a party having a single end in view be =
national party Can the men who form a par
~ of but one principle, be statesmen! Can thu
farmer expect to live, who would do nothing bu
pillow, from the first of January to the last of De
cember, while neglecting seed time and harvest
and the care of his stock Can a teacher un
fold and educate the mind of the pupil by keep
ing him year after year on a single propositio,
in geometry? Can the minister exercise
heallhful influence upon the lives of his people
by preaching continually the fact that al
must die, and not say one word on life in it
manifold relations, as a season Of preparation 70
Death ?
The man who is possessed by one singl,
thought is crazy. And the political party base'
on a single principle, is politically crazy. Thu
crazy man is not trusted, and why9 Plainl,
because he can give his attention to but on
thing, and the aii'lirs of life demand that atten
tion should be bestowed upon many. So to-
with "A political party with but one principle
1t cannot be trusted with the affairs Of govern
ment. For the interests Of the nation involv,
more than it is prepared to attend to, more thai
it possibly can attend to. 1t has no head, NJ
heart, no hands for anything, save its own pc
culiar hobby.
lie is not a man then of clear, COMPREHENSIVE,
and statesman-like views; he is not a pat
riot, who can leave the broad platform of a par
ty, embracing a system of policy for the whol
country, and join himself to a party having for it
sole object one single political measure. This sin
gle measure may be admitted by all to be a goo'
one, the object may be earnestly desired by al
but to make it the only end worth striving for, i
to pronounce all other measures or principle
comprehended in the "platiorm,' iraught viii
evil, or at least worthless.
~ A correspondent of the Sentinel, signing
himself " Wing Mechanic is quite compll
m%entary 10 rs because we thought proper to re
ply, in respectful yet earnest terms, to the erro
neous statem,nis and %erratic logic, of the Rev
- r.