Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-12-29
Spirit of Americanism.

Spirit of Americanism.
The knell sounds. On every breeze, north,
south, east, and west. comes the death tones.
The old political parties are dead-dead be-
yond hope-beyond resurrection. Even now
they are "knocked about the mazzard with
a sexton's spade" and men are "playing at
logeats with their bones" Their last days
were their most days, and few there be that
mourn them.
A new party is springing into life. 4
party still in its CRADLE aud yet as strong as
an infant Hercules. A party born on Amer
lean soil, glowing with American Blood,
and strenuous with an American spirit A
party that as it grows in stature and knts its
energies, is destined to become the deliver
er Of our country from evil times, and 10
serve thereafter as its noblest defender. 1t
is party which IN its very youth swears NJ
the altar of the fathers Of the Republic, eter
nnl allegiance to American principles. a
party schooled IN all the political mnsims of
the great Washington's Farwell Address,
and which have taken into their Utmost
heart the most earnest o. lessons that For
eign influence is one Of The most banef,d foes
Of Republican Government" A party that
believe in country that put n value upon
nationality; that love their "own native
land !" that cherish her early renown; that
think it not n vain thing to inherit the blood
of noble sires. A party that have ancestral
graves TO look upon; that have ancestral
tolls and aDors to dwell upon; that, in the
institutions of government and institutions
of religion, have an ancestral inheritance 10
glory in, rs well rs present blessing to be
enjoyed that have an ancestral spirit TO be
inspired with, ancestral precepts to respect.
ancestral examples to initiate. A party that
believe in popular enlightenment and in ma
tonul justice-in order and law, IN religion
and morali,y--that abiore fihbusterlsm and
all forms of unlawful aggression that mel
ther seek to interfere with the concerns OF
other nations, nor will permit other nations
10 interfere with our concerns-that look
upon the Federal Constitution as the bond of
the Union, nnd will unwaveringly hold fast
to It's integrity that recognize sancuty In
plghted faith, and abide by public compro-
misses; that upon the great subject OF slave
nv pretend not 10 be wiser than their fathers,
but keep equally clear from the ultraism ON
the one hand, that sees in the institution the
corner stone of every political and social
blessing, and from the ianailclsm on the 9th
er, that would upheave 1t in spite OF every
constitutional barrier, and in disregard OF al
consequences. A party that hate violence
and put moral influence far above mntefla
means, that repose their confidence in th'
duration of our system of government IL
the diffusion of general knowledge, and goo'
and virtuous sentiments; shat recognize tn
undoubted right and the bounden duty OF tn
government 10 provide for the instruction
all youth. and hold that Christian ins'ructlo
is a necessary element IN all republican ed
ID III
book, und that it should not be prescribed i
our public schools that believe IN the lit
erty OF conscience, but none the less belle,
in the rights of conscience that while the
would admit every man TO the frecst enjoy
sneDt of whatever spiritual allegiance b
may see fit TO adopt, would permit the exc
else Of no temporal dominion Of hierarch {
hierarchy, direct or indirect, by whatevs
name called, whether seated on this side
the Atlantic or the other; that gladly we
come TO our shores the poor aud oppresse
of every land, would fanhfully secure {;
them the exercise of all their natural right
and would treat them with the hosptalil
becoming a great and generous people, v.
do not fee! called upon TO confer upon thel
franchise which they are not qualified TO e,
ercise, and clothe them with power In,
they know not how to use ; a party, m fns
who believe that human liberty is yet oblip
ed to repose its principal hopes on the il
telligence and yigor of the Saxon race
whose spirit is the Spirit Of American indie
peDdence, whose genius is the genus Of TN
er-living Washington.
The old political parties have for yosu
been carrying within themselves the seed
of their own dissolution The opposin,
principles of conservatism and radicalian
have been struggling in each for the mas,e
~, and have waged an interneclne strife
They have succeeded IN maintaining IA
outward forms, but have lost all essentii
unity and all vital energy. Not an electio
has taken place within The last two or ihrs
years, that has not wrenched their who
structure, and FASTENED their destruction
Each of the great parties have radical eli
ments, and conservative elements al
there is greater affinity between the iv
similar kinds of elements in the opposiI
parties, than between the two dIssimil
kinds of elements in the same party. In Il
nature Of things this anomalous conditi'
could not long continue. a Lou
divided against itself cannot stand is
truth confirmed by holy writ and il appli
no less 10 political parties than all other>h
man associations. The difficulty in brea
Jug VA iitth wv oo peibc1 mas bte0 u
want of distinct and independent fran
work for new organization. Conseryati,
Democracy could never effectuslly uni
With Conservative Whiggery as such, u
Conservative Whiggery with Conseryati,
Democracy; and yet both might enter in
third organization ana work together mo
tremendously and effsctually. Thus v
have just seen in our own State, Hard ID
mocrsis and Silver Grey Wings vieing
the support of candidate which distinctly
u belonged TO neither. They were q
urged into the support Of that candidate
the mere force Of chance circumstance
hut because they saw in him the represe
sstive Of principles which challenged ths
hsssty coneuuence. Thus i has been u
euch : candidate has received full hundr
ohopsand votes ia this State, and come We
~ ehe highest post in the gilt Of the pc
L. Thu resunr * able strength which d