The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-23
The predicament of the Opposition.

ing point which to unite IN opposition TO the new
administration is the striking feature the face OF
the times More than anything else il seems TO verify
the declaration of MIR. Webster, that the wing party, as
national organization, has ceased to exist The lead
ing principles OF the democratic party in regard to our
domestic policy have stood untouched upon the statute
book during the WING administration, and never be-
fore strong in popular acquescence and appro
val The sectional controversy--frst composed by the
compromise measures and then formally adjudicated by
the people in the late eectonappears TO have received
its final quietus from the explicit and manly terms in
which the Presidents Inaugural Address has placed the
policy of peace between the different sections OF the
country under the ayis OF his administration. The
abuses Of the executive government in its financial ad-
mnistraton during the past four years have been too
garng to permit any party seriously deny the necessity
or oppose the prosecution OF vigorous reform in that de-
partment of the public service. Thus the questions per-
tanning to the foreign relations of the country appear TO
constitute the main if not the only ground upon which
even a show of opposition TO the administration
can now take its stand
| Now, of all grounds upon which an opposition party
can be rallied this of the foreign policy OF the
is The most perilous and indeed hopeless In every
where our policy towards foreign nations has been made
the main party issue the government has prevailed, and
The opposition been overthrown. This the
when louisiana was purchased, when the war Of 1912
took place. when Texas annexed and when the Mex
lean war was declared. In each of these issues, when
judged before the people, the government victorious
and the opposition succumbed Such result may always
be expected when the conduct of the foreign rela ions
of the country made the chief party issue, because in
such the government. clothed with the power OF
negotiation mus, always hold against It's adversaries
the initiative. and. in large measure. the control of
events When parties already organized and arrayed
against each other upon other issues, then. indeed the
foreign policy of an administration, If unworthy or
wse may be made the ground of etectua attack before
the people The las four wears have proved this. But
no effort can he more hopeless than array successful
opposition against administration upon the assump
ton that its foreign policy will fail toSconorm the
sentiment of the people In sach onset, the assal-
ants are al great disadvantage.
All this is exempfed in the reception of the Presidents
Inaugural by the wing press. They show in relation 10
| it no sentiment, except disposition wings
oppose or censure the democratic administration Ac-
cordngly large portion Of these iournas-ether yield
ing the general sentiment around them else hoping
that their present approval OF the Presidents language
will give emphasis TO their future censure OF his ac-
tionpronounce the paper TO be just what il should be
smaller portion OF the wing press makes against the
foreign policy OF the Inaugural contradictory and conf
ing charges which destroy each other All this shows that
the whig party, party, chance rally against
the President upon his declared purposes the conduct of
foreign affairs Indeed, such rally on its face
would be little less than factious strife against the
rights the interests and the character of the country
To this must be added the important fact tina, many OF
the leading intellects of the wing party now TO have
ougrown The old bgo,ry OF their party, and to have adopt
ed the democratic faith, that tie just and natural expan
Of territory, instead OF being evil is in reality
source Of strength and prosperity to ourselves and an
immeasurable gain to the cause Of free civilization
throughout the world. II hardly too much TO saw
that when the next question OF annexation fy ana prop.
ery arises, in the of Texas for instance an anti
xaton party scarcely il all, he formed The
maintenance Of the principle OF he Monroe doctrine is
another in point No party which consents 10 sur
render II can hope for popular support APPRECIATION
In this point OF view, regard the present OF the
wing press in relation TO the administration as an
acknowledgment that il knows no ground upon which
the declared policy OF the democratic party can be
successfully opposed II is remarkable that the ad.
mnisralion lately formed in Great Britain appears 10
stand in a somewhat similar position. The oppo.
son party has yet hardly dared to show its hand
There yet agains, Lord Aberdeens ministry no op.
position policy. The explanation OF this almost un-
preceden,ed fact in England is that the ministry was
formed ess by coalition OF political partisans than by
a confluence Of political opinions. The administration OF
President Pierce The other hand though brought into
power by signal party triumph, mark the mo.
ment when the policy Of that party, both in regard for
egn relations and domestic affairs, has so commended
itself TO the great of the people silence at least
II not efecuay to discourage and disarm all organized
opposition.
In this connection, too, il is easy TO understand The a.
most universal favor with which, by the press of both par
ties the selection of the cabinet has been received
The prominence and power "a democrats Of the gentle.
men composing il must, under ordinary circumstances,
challenge The fierce denuncia,ons OF the opposition jour
nails Bot now, the halls Of Congress, from leading
wings, and from the most Influential whg presses hear
strong and altogether unusual expressions of confidence
that the powers Of the administration will be welded in
conformity TO the public sentiment and to the eecua pro
motion OF the public interest In the minds Of demo-
Gratis such ancipatons would arise naturally from their
confidence in their President and from the array OF
ability and experience which he has summoned TO his
aid but coming they do, also, from the wing party
such expressions Of confidence in the administration
plainly indicate that in the judgment Of the masses of
the people the policy Of the democratic party is he states