The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1854-07-20
Political Parties.

the efforts of real bodies to obtain the as
tendency, are neither generally nor nee
essarily productive of evil results. Diff
ference of opinion may honestly exist,
and may lead to intense excitement; but
so long as the aim of the different contest
tants is to promote, each in their own way
the welfare of the country, the jealous
watchfulness of the defeated minority
exerts wholesome influence on the policy,
of those who control the affairs of ma
ton.
But while this is true of political par
ties, it cannot be maintained of factions,
which sometimes aspire to the position of
political parties, without possessing sin
gle element entitled to that distinction
By factions, we mean collections of indi-
viduals united for the accomplishment of
some single purpose, distinct from the
legitimate functions of the government,
while on the general principles of its con-
duct they have no common faith or bond
of union. The difference between fac
tons and political parties is, that the for
mer are only united in regard to some
single measure, however divided on all
others, while parties, properly SO called,
stand on a common platform of general
principles, suited for the entire admins
tration of the government in all its vari-
Gus departments An organization which
would recognise no other bonds of union
and friendship than that all its members
should be six feet high, and should sup
port no man of less stature for Office,
would not be entitled to the name of a
political party, however extensive or in
fuential. And yet, if we analyse the
characteristics of some of the societies
that exert powerful influence in cleo
tons, and make professions of a political
organization, we are at loss to preceiye
any more distinctive features of politi-
cal nature than would belong to a con-
glomeraton Of six-footers of all ages and
opinions.
A sectional organization such as has
been long attempted in spite of the oppo-
sition of all who have deserved the name
of statesman, and which is now apparent
ly in the height of its vigor, lacks every
e.'sment of political party. Its tenden-
cy is to cubserye the interests and advance
the supremacy of a particular locality
it aims to detestt another portion of the
country in a share in tie government; and
hence the ultimate success OF such par
ty must be the destruction of govern
ment which acknowledges no basis but the
consent Of the governed. Backed by
power, such sectionalism may admin
lister the affairs of government in spite of
the protestations of the weak; but tyranny
is the invitable result of its success, and
revolution alone can subyert it. Such is
the result of experience in other lands,
and such would speedily be the conse-
quences in our own, of any permanent
success of any constituted on a geographl-
cal basis. We say, then, that such par
ty is in no proper sense political. In
stead of being constituted with the well
fare of the country at large, its purpose is
division, discord and disunion. The ends
it proposes to accomplish, are narrow and
selfish. 1t desires to weaken a part of
the country, not to strengthen the whole
by ties of brotherhood and affection. 1t
seeks to make legislation partial in its
benefits, and thus tends directly either to
make unwilling slaves of all who live in
certain localities, or else to force them to
form new governmental such form as
to them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness. Such an or
ganization is faction, in the most. despi-
cable meaning of the term. 1t is formed
not to carry out the design and objects of
tke government, but to limit them, and
prevent their accomplishment. It's dis
tinguishing feature is not any peculiar
views of policy, by which the government
can be made more useful to all; but a de-
votion to system which shall make it
subservient to part. A member of one
political party differs from a member OF
another in the fact, that while each aims
to accomplish the same end, they propose
to do it by opposite means. A factionist
differs from both, in the fact that he wish
es to accomplish a totally different end, by
the employment of any means. The aim
of political parties, as we have already
said, is to administer the government fol
the general good, but with a difference o.
opinion as to the means necessary to effect
it. The aim of factions is to administer
the same government for the benefit o.
particular individuals or particular local..
ties, to the utter disregard of the rights
of others.
In this view of the matter, we cannot
recognize, as political party, an associa
ZION that from its original formation, has
made war on the constitution, and which
refuses obedience to its mandates. We
cannot credit the patriotism of factor