Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-02-23
Change of Name.

Change of Name.
The deceney party of "happy memory" have
about concluded, upon reflection, that it is advis
able to change their name another time. This
process is gone through with about once in four
years, changing its name with each succeeding
administration, while its principles remain unal-
tered.
We have heard of no proposition to change any
feature in their policy, no improvement in their
morals, nor evidence Of honest reformation, but a
mere alteration of party title Some patriotic ap-
peliation is desired that will be passport to sue
cess in future contestant will secure the aid
of foreign voters, who are now (says the Wing
Reuie,c) sedueed by the name of Democrat
: A good name is valued according to the means
by which 1t is obtained. If won by honesty, in
tegrty and fidelity, it pearl of priceless value,
but if usurped to cloak dishonesty and vice, It's
but banble, worse than useless.
We need no further proof of this assertion than
the history of the recent Wing party affords du-
ring period of fifty years. The names which
man. Federal National Republican, 'Whig,
&c, were successfully adopted, dsgraced, and
then discarded The fondest title, the most cher
ished appellations became by-word and reproach
when used to designate the Federal party,
sThe rose by any other would smell as sweet.''
Nor will the change of name secure the Wings
a brighter prospect. The iniquites Of the old
Wing party viii corrupt and finally destroy the
new. A change of principles is more desirable
than the mere alteration of their party title.
They urge as a reason for the change, that the
5.honest, simple men who come to us from other
countries,'' are lured by the fascinating name of
Democrat. while theirs possesses no attractions.
This, if true, should be received by our adopted
citizens as very equivocal compliment to their
intelligence and patriotism, that, after having for
saken homes and friends for land of freedom,
they would be seduced by the empty sound of par
ty name. But it is untrue. The foreigner has
seen the effects of aristocracy and monopoly at
home, he has lived where whig doctrines are taught
and Wig measures carried out in their purity. To
escape their consequences he becomes IN Amer
ican citizen and Democrat.
The disgrace and overthrow of the whig party
is owing, not to its name but its policy-promises
unfulflled, pledges uuredeemed, public plumbers
unwhipt of Justice, with total disregard for the
welfare the people, have been the true cause of
its discomfeture. And it matters but little by
what name this faction may be designated, SO long
as it remains what it is, and what it ever has
been, whether sporting the "black cockade,' oa
distributing coffin handbi]ls-welcoming Ameri-
can soldiers ewith bloody hands to hospitable
graves in Mexico, or locating the site for Mil
itary hospital in Kentucky. Its destiny is fixed
and its fate determined beyond the hope of resto-
ration. No, call your party by what name you
will, unless you change your principles, your pol
icy, defeat will surely follow. Unless you fulfil
the promises you have made, redeem the pledges
you have given. you need not expect prosperity.
You have inscribed upon your banners 'retrench-
ment and REFORM" preached on the stump "two
dollars a day and roast beef" to the laborer, and
claimed to be the party that has all the intelli-
gence, all the honesty and all the decency. In the
face of all this, what is the result! Your cring-
ing policy has disgraced US as a nation and your
enormous expenditures hare drained the treasury
to the bottom. Such liberal promises and entire
failure to perform them are the cause of your de-
feat, and SO long as you cling to the old avowed
principles of whiggery there is no name in the
vocabulary that can secure your prosperity.