Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-04-26
rne wing Party--its Pretensions.

paper edited by u. Francis Bacon FORMER
H. associate editor of the New York Cour-
Ter and Enquirer, and man who has new,
er acted politically with any other than
the wing party:
: It would be difficulty to furnish his
torical parallel to that singular and alb
.urd delusion which seems to peryade the
minds Of that important portion Of the A.
merican people claiming to be ''the Wing
oartu''-as to their supposed power Of
controlling political events, and as to the
nature and extent of the influence which
thew exercise upon the tendencies Of pop
Mar movements, manifested in the results
Of elections. How "the Wing party" be-
came infested with the idea that they could
ever. by the exertion Of their own unaid-
ed mower. elect President of the United
States, or State Government in New
York. it would be difficult to explain
The fact that they neuer dds unques-
toned and unquestionable; and there is no
necessity for a particular inquiry into the
sources of their fantastic ideas Of their
own power to do--what they never have
done, under the most favorable circum-
stances for the attempt.
In 1892 they tried--and failed. In 1886,
they tried and failed. At each trial, they
had in their favor all the supposable in
Auences of the opposition Of republican
people to the shameless corruption and
the most bare-faced monarchical tyranny,
exercised by those in power; and in addi-
ton to this they had the natural DISPOSE
ton Of the American people to approve
and sustain all the good measures which
they advocated, and the popular candidate
whom they presented.
In 1887, 1888, 1889, controlling por-
ton of their opponents became hostile to
the measures of the Administration; and
the very foolish presumption and bad
management of those in power, prevented
a reconciliation and reunion in 1910. The
consequence was that in that year, the
Wing candidates were elected by large
majority of the votes, in large majority
of the states of the Union, with the help
of this temporarily seeding portion o. the
Locofoco party. Defeat taught the Loco
foco leaders little wisdom. They recon-
ciled the seceders, and with a reunited
force, upset the Wings again. From that
time until all questions pending between
them from 1887 to 1874, were finally and
irreversibly settled in their favor, the Lo-
colocos remained in full possession of all
power. In 1916, and lS47, the dissen-
sions in the Locofoco party in this state,
resulting in an open division, enabled a
portion of the Wings, with the aid of Anti
Renters, to elect-frst, Governor, and a
large majority of the Congressional dele
tion-and afterwards, the other state off,
GERS and three-fourths Of the Legislature
by vote smaller by ten of thousands
than they gave when they were defeated
in 1874!
The increasing discomfort created by a
large portion of the Locofoco party in va
rious parts of the Of the Union by the un-
fortunate measures of the national Admin
istration, also operated in this, as in other
states, to induce large number of voters
to refuse to go to the polls-the result of
which was that in every state, and in al
most every district, where the Wings
were successful, it was by a smaller vote
than they gave at previous elections, when
defeated.
Now the circumstance requiring no.
tice as one of the results of the success of
the Wings under these circumstances, is
the extraordinary conceit and presump-
tnon of their newspapers and leading men,
In arrogating to themselves the merits of
this success, and in proceeding as they
now do, to discuss, with the utmost gravi-
ty and self-sufficiency, the important ques-
tion--"Whom shall the National Conven-
ton nominated election of the I'M
known nominees being, as usual, already
too well settled, (nine months in advance
to justify doubt, or suggestion of lit
tie caution and moderation. The most
curious and comical characteristic of all
this discussion is, that it relates exclusive
ly to the several claims Of Clay and Tav-
lor for the favor of the proposed Conven-
tion--whi!e the latter has again and again,
IN the most emphatic and resolute manner,
declaredthat he will not accept such nom
ination, and though they may vote for him
if they please, he will not act under any
express or implied pledge to carry out the
Will OF any party, or to represent its prin-
ciples, or adopt its measures, or reward
its members with Office! And on the 9TH
er hand, Mr.. Clay has thus far indicated
nothing but decided inclination to be ia
vored again with the very dubious COM
pliment Of Il contested nomination from a
body of men selected by local delegations
chosen by the actual voters of not more
than the filtieth or one hundredth, or one
hundredth and fftieth part of that unfor-
tunate, changeable, and perpetually beaten
Wing party. That party owes its exist
ence to him, more times than once, from
Its first organization under him and foun-
dation BY him. But for him, four-filths
OF them would have abandoned their prin-
ciples and measures, and followed Tyler
and Webster in their treachery and ter
glversation. The continuance of their or
ganlzation through another election, de-
ponds wholly upon the continuance Of his
hie. He is still, as he ever has been, the
only bond Of union among its turbulent
and heterogeneous masses, land if he should