The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-10
The Parties and their Position..Demo-
cratic Duty.

A short revsw Of political parties 10 the
United States, will not, at this time, be oul
of place. We exclude from notice, the
questions Of ultra pro-slavery and ultra anti
slavery, which would present, in sober
truth, merely an imaginary geographical
line between the North and the South, il
the votes of the masses were taken upon
them. These questions have been worked
up by blind fanaticism on the one hand, and
mendaciously used by political aspirants for
place and personal elevation on the other.
They have been aided in making il promi-
nent, by the adventitious acquisition of
territory, affording new field for agitation.
But settlement of this vexatious difficulty,
having been consulnated by the recent acts
of Congress, which virtually adopts the
non 'nterrention principle-that is to say,
leaving each State to mango its own legit-
mate concerns for itself, mems minds natur-
ally turn to the condition Of the great polit-
ical parties of the country, into one or the
other OF which the erratic wandering Of by
streams, may be expected TO subside, nd
find their level at their home. A review of
our national politics from the beginning, as
well as survey ofthem at the present day,
cannot fail to convince every reasonable
man OF these two striking facts.
FIrst-Ihe Democratic party, excepting
in some few localities over this broad land, ,
has been, in the main, in the ascendent and
successful, and has bad, and will have, the
prepoDderance in our national councils
Second, the Federal, or Wing party, or
whatever name it has from time to time as
sumed, has attained power during a few
short intervab only through the temporary
dissenslons on local questions, in the Dem
ocratic ranks, and by aid Of an affiliation
with the equally temporary off.shoots and
excrescences of party, which had little priD-
ciple for their basis, and were doomed to
perish almost as soon as they came into ex-
istence. In short, it has occasionally only
run in "between the drops" And such,
from the nature Of things, will be the case.
The reasons are obvious;-Democracy al
lies itself with the very character Of our in
stitutions, and receives their impress, while
the autagonistic party isis everything by
turns, and nothing long," except in it's de-
votlon IN inherent principle to antiquated
notions, old abuses, its resistance to reform
and progress, and its utter sympathy in ev-
cry phase or circumstance, large or small,
with that tone Of feeling which pervades
the British aristocracy. In the domestic
circle OF duties and amusements, 10 manner
and fashion, it initiates them, and, regard
less OF the differences of circumstances up
on matters of more grave import, yariously
and carelessly adopts their habits of thought.
The plain tendency and consequences is,
that the Democratic is the national feeling,
the attractive magnet Of fixed principles to
the nasses, lwhile the leaders or tacticians
Of the Wings are creatures of circumstances,
and the party follow their lead, without re-
iection, or opinionsor determination, to
particular purpose. That there are pure
patriots in both parties is not to he doubted,
because it has been proven; but the striking
difference is, that the masses Of the Democ-
racy, will ever, recurring to first principles,
lhirk aud act with reference to them, while
Whiggery takes things from their mana
gers. just as they happen to come. And
his is the secret of the past and the coming
success of the Democratic party. .'.. i
To illustrate, at length, what we have
'aid, would take more space than we can
Afford, and more time than our readers can
Ipare. But few words will serve the
present purpose. The old federal or aris-
ocratic party, Of the elder Adams school
we're overcome by the democracy whose
eader was Jefferson. They assumed then, |
he name Of American Republicans and
we're equally foiled. True to their instincts,
hey adopted, successfully, the anti-mason-
c-the Nafivist-the abolitionist---the Free
oilist excresences, and used them for their |
'ul poses, but always holding on TO the hope |
'f getting into power. @fp'
The Wings treated these floating animal
ui@ OF party respectively, as the mariners J