Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-27
THE PERPLEXITIES OF THE TIMID
AND THE TIME SERVING.

To cautious, timid, time serving politicians,
these are perilous times. They know not
where to tread The political ground is iced
over, and to avoid slipping, the schemer who
has no chart of principles must be very careful.
But those who are boldest on the ice, always
fare best. He who gets the most falls is the
man, who, afraid to strike out boldly for him
self, catches hold of the cloaks and coat tails
of those who glide by him.
In what consists the peril Of these times ?
Herein it lies. In regard to several important
questions there has recently been much agita-
ton. The Pacific railroads.&c. acquisition Of
foreign territory-the formation of territorial
governments, and the admission into the Union
Of new States. In reference to some of these
questions, especially the first, there, has yet
been no very distinct, authentic, and en-.
bodied manifestation of public opinion. We
do not entertain shadow of doubt that public
opinion is as much in favor Of this road as it
can be. But it desires that it shall be under.
taken and constructed by private enterprise,
only aided by the government SO far as it can
properly and constitutionally render aid.
AS purely government scheme, We believe
that it already stands condemned by the great
bulk of the nation. So gigantic and colossal
an institution, deriving vitality and support
from the government, with all its mighty
powers. would be the most dangerous and mis-.
chievous measure that can well be conceived.
1t would erect government which, in the
course of time, would be rs strong almost as
the government. In its creation would be in.
volved a violation of the Constitution, and a
disregard of the we'll established doctrines of
the democratic party. Its vast powers-its
immense patronage-its necessarily protracted
duration-its consolidated organization, would
make it almost rival to the government that
breathed into it the breath of life. 1t would
be almost as bad as a union of church and
State. About these things the people, we be-
lieve, by very large majority, think with us !;
but still, as there has not been distinct and
authentic expression of popular opinion on the
subject, many of the timid and timeserving
politicians, who do not dare to move without
the certain knowledge that their movements
are in harmony with the mighty many, are
sadly and sorely perpexed.
1t IS to be lamented when private enterprise
has shown both its anxiety and its ability to
construct this road with such help as the go
vernment can properly render it, that the OBJ
stinate effort to take it out of the hands of pri
vate individuals and make it pure govern
ment measure, should be persisted in.
Nor is it only III reference to the questions
we have referred to that there is altering, hest
fancy and non.committalism, among timid
time-serving politicians and presses. The un-
fortunate questions that have sprung up in re-
lation to New York politics, have struck these
gentlemen all aback. They want to be on the
strong side, and they do not yet know which
tout of New York; is the strong side. They
very much inclined to the opinion, before the
election there, that the sofs or freesoilers were
the strong party in that State, but the result
has revealed to them the fact that, in the en-
pire State, the national democrats outnumber
their adversares.
All now that they want to ascertain, before
they become jealous and noisy partizans is,
which is the strongest party beyond the limits
of the Empire State. They have no satisfactory
data to go upon yet True, most, if not all Of
the prominent public men who have thus far
expressed any opinion, have come out for the
national democrats; but then the cabinet, or,
rather some members of it, have denounced
of the sohs. Yet nothing decisive has oc,
CURED to "carry conviction with it, and as
these tmid persons do not wish to be '.crushed
out by taking the weak side, they are very
discreetly waiting for events that will dissipa,e
all doubt.
The course, however, Of some Of these presses
and politicians has afforded infinite merriment
to the country. They have ridden both sides
Of the sapling. They have blown hot, and they
have blown cold. They have written for, and
against both. They have been hards" and
they have been softs.' The arguments they
constructed one day, they have most yindictively
and cruelty demolished the next day. They
have shown laxity Of principle and a weak
ness of mind, that have excited alike the scorn
and the ridicule of the country Is it desired
to prove that Dickinson, Bronson, O'Conor, and
their friends, are right? The files Of these pa
pers viii prove it beyond all doubt. Is it de.
sired to prove that Dickinson, Bronson and
O'Conor are wrong. The files of the same
papers will furnish the wished-for proof. Does
Mr. Guthrie seek comfort in his manifold attic
tons and perplexi,ies? He will find it in the
convenient columns Of these amphibious jour
mails. Does he start back appalled, and thun.
derstruck? It is because the next issues Of
these journals TEEN with hot and virulent con.
domination of his course.
Well, there IS some consolation in the thought
that this state of things cannot long continue