Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-06-23
Parties and Party Names,

Step by step, the process Of denationaizing
freedom and Of making the dcspotic influence
Of the Slave holding power national ha, gone
on, till it has reached point where it must
he stopped forevcr-and its waves turned
backward, or they will soon ovcrwhem the
whole land. Its last leap forwards like that
Of a springtide urged by furious wind, has
institutions We're supposed to be forever out
of its reach. 1t is no time now to waste en-
ergy and strength in finding fault with any
who have been truly and earnestly opposed to
this great evil, but who have differed as to the
best means Of resisting its progress Rather
should all overlook minor differences aud
unite their efforts to stay the great evil if it
be possible to do So
But how is that to he done That qucs-
ton is to be looked at cooly. with reference to
the actual condition of things in the country.
The remedy must be suitable for the disease,
and for the constitution of the body in which
it is to work.
y great deal is thrown out here and there
about doing away at once with all pdrties.-
1t is said that in no other way can clean
riddance be made of scheming politicians,
and their places be supplied with true men
who will work for freedom and not for slavery
But party Qor party it would be, call it
by what name you willy protesting to work
for freedom and nothing else, as soon as it
can promise power, will be just as likely as
9TH =. 1 l. 4
principlod men, who will hore hy.its means to
ride into Office and to get profit. Such men
will join which ever they believe will be the
strongest side and they will be the most
yociferous men found there the most yio-
lent to denounce all who do not repeat their
savings and follow their cad.
Besides this great difficulty in tie way of
such a plan, there is another greater still -
No po'nicoi party has any enduring character
"h'ch rests upon single point Of act,on.-
The public eye can not be 50 confined Human
society has numberess relations. We can
not agree to lay by all but one aud to attend
to that alone. The others will not be laid by
They are present. We must attend to them
To be sure, at times, some one will he thrust
forward with great force, and will absorb
great share Of attention but no matter how
important it is, the time comes when it must
stand back and await it, turn again. H2mlu
will is not strong enough to prevent it.
party then which is organized to do only
one thing, earnest and active as it may be
under the heat Of an occasion which called it
int Ia If l.
is once accomplished. If success is lurg
deferred, it will soon find itself idle great
part Of the time. Being idle 1T will become
eluggsh and powcrless,-vi crum'le to
Jiecos and its elements will enter into par
ties having more ample materials for dura-
bility and life.
The notion then which some have, of an en-
tire breaking up of all existing political par
tes, and Of bringing their scattered sands by
some magic into two great organized parties,
each with distinct form and living soul -
one to fight Slavery in any or all forms, and
the other to defend and strengthen it, we
look upon as utterly ilnpracticuble. We do
not deny the honesty OF earnestuess OF those
who are driving at such result, But the
,i.n will not succeed, Great parties IN IL
nation are neither maize nor destroyed Ia that
way Their growth il "A work of time, They
clinse by d srees when they change at all.
Inis is true Of their prevailing sentiment, aud
equaly true Of the men which compose them.
fodiyIuals break of from one party because
they become satisfied that the sentiment
,y'i-li th.v cherish Iuu4t has Lost lis lorpt
there, if 1t ever had any. They join another
they see, or think they see, good rca
homo thnt tley llall find II more liNcIv