New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-17
PROGRESSIVE, POLITICS.

Craftsmanship we understand 10 be the
application of immutably just and benef-
cent principles to the ever-varying course
of events, to the actual condition and ext
gencies of public affairs. 1t is therefore
among the grandest, most important, most
difficult of sciences. No PolOnius lectures,
no well-preserved collection of grandsires'
maxims, can ever form statesman worthy
of the name and Jean Pauls Proposals
for Cast Metal King, which so intensely
evolved the latent humor of Herr Teufels-
dI0ck, would be wholly inappicable, we
venture to say without seeing them, to the
fabrication of tolerable Prime Minister
or eminent legislator. The cast might be
ever so good, and well adapted to the cir
cumstances existing at the moment OF Its
projection but, before it shall have fairly
cooled into rigidity, the aspect of affairs
will often have so changed that the materi-
al and labor thus bestowed can hardly prove
other than a total loss.
Craftsmanship is an affirmative science.
1t contemplates positive effort, not mere
inertia or stagnation; it prescribes duties
and contemplates results. No art of stand
ing immovably still-no blind obstinacy of
obstruction and petrifaction-nop rofundity
of hens caution against the perverse temeri-
ty of her duckling brood in precipitating
themselves into the water--will fully satisfy
its Just requirements. Atrue Statesman does
much to promote and accelerate his Coun-
try's progress in Industry, Arts, lnteli-
gence and Moral Power; he is not content
with merely abstaining from all that might
hinder or impede it. A wise, unselfsh, pa
ternal rule can never avert its eyes from
the Material and Intellectual Progress of
the People deferriDg to its sway, but will
rather measure its success and beneficence
by the rapidity and universally thereof.
In view of these principles, we ask at
teniion once more to the general scope and
purpose of the Resolves adopted and pro-
mulged by the Democratic National
Convention at Baltimore two weeks ago.
Suppose every tangible, material affirma-
lion therein contained were true, what
then? Do they altogether imply or involve
substantial, sufficient reasons for restoring
the resolvers to power Suppose we all
agree that we do not now need National
Bank-that our Naturalization Laws should
remain as they are-that one section or
one interest ought not to be favored by le-
gislation at the expense OF another-that
Congress has no power to institute gen.
eral system of Internal Improvements
that the Federal Government ought not to
assume the State Debts-and that the Ken
lucky and Virginia Resolves of '9S or so
were all right-what is there in all this to
90 to the People upon How does 1t all
prove that Messrs. Pierce and King ought
to be elected President and Vice President :!
One-half these resolves affirm what nobody
thinks of denying, while the other halt,
which aim blows at River and Harbor I'm
provement and Incidental Protection, do it
in so skulking and cowardly manner that
they subserve no practical purpose. Gov.
Porter and his Pennsylvania followers as
sent to the Baltimore Resolves, but demand
a higher duty on Iron; Senator James and
his New England symoathizers as unhesi-
tatingly assent to the Resolves, but insist
that there ought to be higher duty on
fine Cottons and other fabrics-and so with
other adherents of the Baltimore Platform.
1t is jointed, multifaced structure, and
was intended to be flexible and movable
according to the exigencies, local and per-
soDal of the party
And has it really come to pass that the
strongest party in the country has worked
out its ideas, has fulfilled all Its distinctive
purposes, and has nothing left to do but
awaken occasionally from its soothing
dreams of past triumphs to run down and
sbacble a few fugitive slaves Is slave
catching the one only affirmative, positive
thing which 'the party has to do ever
morel Verify, if Democracy is hence
forth to manifest its Progressive tenden-
cits only on the trail of flying negro, it
cannot be worth while to convulse the
Country for the sake of restoring it to
power.