The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-04-16
Parties and oSuoes.

{ i 4&xuo8 ma VIu696.
Whenever men associate together, they originate
some plan for restraining the powerful and protect
ing the weak. Self-interest impels them to thii
course; for each one may at come time become
weak and liable to oppression from the strong Thu
principle Of interest, then, is at the bottom of al
governments; and that government is the bes
which most thoroughly Identifies itself with the in
terests of those subject to its control And govern
ment 10 likely to 60 wrong whenever it acknowl
edges for its basis any other principle than that
interest. The monarchical form is based upon the
idea that one man may so thoroughly identify him
self with nation, as always to regard its interest.
as being his own; but the weakness of human
nature prevents this and hence all the errors and
abuses of monarchy Democratic governments
are the best, because they acknowledge no othel
right of authority but the interest and wishes of the
majority.
Not only is the true and only safe principle Of
government to be found in self interest, but in the
administration of government care must be taken
to enlist the selfish part of mans nature on the side
of right and truth 1t is passion and interest which
| give energy and vitality to opinions. You cannot
carry out principle or measure of policy unless
you take care to have on its side large share Of
what are sometimes called the baser parts of our
nature. Now, as parties pretend to be founded on
principle, and to have for their object the reduction
to practice of some great idea, it is necessary in
order to accomplish their ends, that they should
address the selfish and passionate feelicgs of hui
manity. Without this, the idea will always remain
an abstraction; the principle will be mereIream
of the imagination. Hence it is Quixotc to attempt
to organize or sustain party unless you hold out
some inducement to men to become enthusiastic in
| the cause. party must promise to reward its
members or else the support it receives will always
be too lukeWam to make it effective.
We know it is common to denounce parties which
make Office the reward of party services-that
many sneers have been wasted on the maxim &c to
the victors belong the spos'': but we think that
such principle is founded on correct knowledge
of human nature; and we suspect that any admin
istration which wishes to carry out a fixed and
certain scheme of public policy will find it abso-
lutey necessary to practise on this principle. Those
who are tainted with political skepticism, who have
few or no strong convictions the subject of gov
eminent, may think that mans opinions do not at
all influence his capacity or fitness for administer
ing the affairs of the nation But such thought
can never be entertained by those who have re-
fected seriously and earnestly on the relations ex-
listing between the citizen and the state. ANY one
who has arrived at definite conclusions on matters
of government, must know that in every transac-
ton between the citizen and the state-conse-
quently in every of an officer of the state-there
is involved some great question of right and wrong
Therefore the conduct of public officer, in even
the mnutest detail, is governed by the political
creed he may have espoused for his political creed
is nothing than his idea of the relations exist
ing between the state-of which he is the repre-.
sentative-and the citizen with whom he NAV have
business affairs.
The habit, then, of rewarding party services
must be acquired by any party that wishes to be
successful. Indeed, how can 4 party show that it
is in earnest unless it calls to its aid all the energies
OF man and enlists on its side all the powers that
its members may possess And how else can this
be done than by identifying the interests of indi-
viduals with those of the party to which they
ADHERED 1t is only when you get the whole man
into action-his powers of passion as well as his
powers of thought-ihat he does any thing great
or worthy of himself Were we angels, we might
devote ourselves to the cause of principle with as
much zeal as we were capable OF, without having
any personal interest in the NATTER but as long as
we are "of the earth, earthly as long as we are
chilled by cold and are subject to hunger and thirst
SO long must it be chief study of life to get inter-
est on the side of right and truth
Besides, how, without regarding political opinions |
in the distribution of offices, can government hope
to maintain the unity essential 10 its existence
Does not the government become mere congrega-
ion of of1ice-hoders when they are not animated |
with the same principle, when they are not con-
rolled by one all-powerful idea Hence the inhe-
'ent weakness of government founded on a man
md not on convictions. Its jarring elements must
ooner or later be dissolved or if not entirely sep
irated, be passed through the crucbe of faith and
used into new and more homogeneous form.
Practical men in all times, even the most corrupt
have seen the necessity of some articles
If faith, in order to keep party together; and
POLITICAL creed can only be vi,alized by comforting
.ffice on those who subscribe to its doctrines.
When men of the most opposite political opinions
ire appointed to office, it may show a spirit of
compromise and moderation on the part of the gov
but it also betrays a want of convictions
which is not very praseworthy in rulers or states
men, OF whatever grade they may be.