Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-09-27
Parties and their Changes.

Ever since the establishment OF government
parties have prevailed and will continue to exist under
any form OF government that is created. There are
always two parties in every community, those who
wish to keep things they are, fearing chnnge and
those who wish something better, looking 20 perec
ton. Those who begin with reform, once in power,
forget the principles that caused their success degen
erate and are swept away by new parties. And IhIs
we shall be told, Is argument against all change; for
if new parties in becoming old are no better than
their predecessors, what does the world gain by the
contest! We reply that, it is an argument in favor
OF continual change; for however any set of mrn
may fall from power and become corrupted, yet the
good which they have done remains, and remains too
as base line of operations for new doors of good
All reformatlons are begun by the poor, the weak,
the humble, and opposed BY the strong. the pow
erful. The reason Of this is funded in the constu
ton OF man, aud in that creation of God, so much
quoted, yet little understood, 'the nature of
things" Men with little nothing. surrounded by
Tipediments and distractions in the of life, all
Of human creation, freedom, clear field, fair
chance in the Those with much. with the lions
share of worldly goods, with wealth and learning
and power wish to keep what they have got, and are
therefore conservatives.
And to keep what they have got, for their children
as well themselves, and therefore to check the pro-
gress of reormation they denounce, rdicue and SIAN
der all parsans OF progress. Thus the Pharlsees
denounced as pubcans and sinners, the especial ia
strumenls of certain great movement. Thus the
princes and nobility of France denounced the revolu-
tonists cuIoies, 'poor devils without breech-
es." They were 'poor DEVILS" and bar legged, and
made so by laws which prevented them from dressing
BETTER yet gave to every conservative dozen SUPER
fiuous pairs. They knew that they had natural
right 10 breeches, and wished TO get some. Hence
they were the very TO begin or join party Of
reformation and progress.
And what are ref0rma tons! Merely the applica-
ton of principles to human affairs. God made prin-
ciples and if these principles honestly carried
out by all men, wrong would be done, and OPP
preston would be practiced. But as all men do not
thus principles and practice continually at var-
ance, the practice departing from the principle till
the evil becomes nolerabe. Then rise parties devo-
ted to reformation; and they always rise among the
people, against princes and Pharisees, because the
people the sufferers by the evil to be reformed.
And then the Pharsees out against innovation and
revolution and destruction, because they the gain
ers by the evil and wish to prolong the gain and
transmit it to their children. Hence all parties begin
with some great principle of right and though they
weak at first, they grow and expand till they be-
come victorious. But every movement must have
leaders. precisely every army must have officers.
And after the victory is gained, and the new party
rules then its leaders, like all predecessors, begin to
feel the cOrrupng influences of power, and eventually
become opposers Of progress, till they in their
are swept away by new party Of progress, arising
from the necessity of reforms and new principles
to be established But while parties thus rising,
succeeding degencraing and dying. principles, Gods
work, are marching onward, and mankind are gain
ing and using the gains of yesterday as levers for
gaining tomorrow. Therefore say all men,
contend for progress, and regard parties and leaders
mere instruments for carrying out rncipes.-Pa.
Ledger.