The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-29
NO ONE MAN NECESSARY TO THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.

NO ONE MAN NECESSARY TO THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY.
Public often taught and bitter lessons
but proportion they suffer- those who after them
benefited and forewarned The great truth most
sany illustrated in the history Of those statesmen who
full Of exravagan ideas Of their value to their party
attempt defy the will of the masses, is MsTHAT
GREAT CAUSE. Such
may be potential for long series of years. whle he
operates Nth his friends But when he sets up for himself
and breaks against the rules he has enforced upon
others rudey ramplng under foot the pecedens Of his
lifetime he falls in the struggle remains
the field with his standard surrounded by those who have
denounced and opposed him during long and exciting
years. Colonel Thomas II. Benton is reaping the
fruits of his infatuated policy. When, in ls43 Mr.
Van Buren, gave way the question Of the annexation
of Texas and the democratic party Immediately
solved dispense with his services candidate for
<the presidency, Colonel Benton should have gathered
from that event ample admonition. But from that
his character seemed TO change Indignant a. the
resoute spirit which animated noble party in sacri-
fcing who had previously been true because Of his
failure meet without blenching question to which the
popular heart turned with instructive enthusiasm, he set
himself up undo the work Of the best years Of his life
and from that he fatered and failed He had,
he supposed read the heart and the history Of democracy
with prophets eye; and all supposed that sooner
would the dedicated countrys heroes
crumbe to the earth than that he should fail in feay to
those who failed to him; but both mistaken
lie who had often led the 6ght-he who had so often
hurled himself like thunderbot upon the foe-he whose
cherished in crowded cities and in the frhes
extremes Of continent the friend of the democratic
paryand he who might have for himself that prize
which is far richer than the the Bourbon wore
he at the time to set example to Others
and most fearfuy test the strength Of the democratic
organizaton-even he gave way. What must have been
his chagrin, however, to find that he left alone
What must have been his amazcment to see the great
democratic column unbroken by his unexpected defec
ton But his heart could have unravelled the mystery
had he consulted II faithfully; for than once has
he, with Plutarchs Gibbons eoquenco, described
just such picture with other the actors He had
but to add his own to show his sincerity and pres
eni dilemma The power that he welded when united
with the democracy had departed from him forever and
he felt in his hearts the deep and deathess truth thai
no one man necessary great This it is that
teaches ofour insgnihcancei
secondly, of the value Of good springng from
a record redolent of good deeds
The worst of Colonel Bentons conflict at the present
moment Is his conflict Nth himself He has written libra
ry Of sound doctrines Every movement against his
old friends is once and rebuked by hims-by the
Witnesses which his history and his own brain have
created and they forth not in single spies but In
whole battaons II is Action devoured by his own hounds
over again. Whether he takes ground against popular
sovereignty in the Territories In favor OF the abolition
lists in their upon the constitution, against his party
organization IL does not require any ohor voice TO reply
bit he orH Thomas H. Benton was an Embodiment OF
democratic statesman democratic leader and the dem
ocra,c creed itself might almost readily take up arms
against itself and hope to survive that he should expect
succcss il his war upon his own example and his
opinions.