Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-10-19

The Party of Expedients.
There are but two parties in the country the
Democratic party and The opposition 10 it,
Dnt me latter IS loose aggregation Of local
and temporary lSnls, held together chiefly BY
a common desire for success and the spoils.-
In one place, it is Temperance orpaDiza-
ton, in another, it gets the support of liberals
al the North, it is Abolition in its notions at
the South, il is pro-slavery. In one campaign
il bios high for the votes Of foreigners, talks
sweetly Of the rich Irish brOgue,' and denoun-
ces General Pierce and New Hampshire for
being intoerant towards Catholics in the
merit campaign, It becomes violently NatiUe
American, thinks nothing SO hateful as for
eIgn accent, allies itself with miniature Inqui-
sltlOns, and becomes an indirect champion of
religious intolerance. When Anti Masonry
was III vogue, il was perfectly horror struck
at the idea Of having secret Societies in Amer
lea, even for the Professed purposes Of benev-
Olence but when il finds it for temporary adj
vantage 50 TO do, it can encourage the growth
of Secret Societies which are intended 10 act
upon Government. When Democratic Ad-
mhistralion is obliged to conduct foreign
war, il can mourn very pileOusly about blood
and carnage, and the awful guilt Of legalized
murder ; but when its interests lie IL another
direction, il can make some successful General
its selected standard-bearer, and thus reap a
harvest of political success, from a soil ferti-
lized by war. 1t eau denounce its opponents
to-day, as panderers 10 rreligiOn and immor-
ality \; ard tomorrow il can join hands with
infdels, in traiiorOus war upon the Consti-
tuition. Local, sectional and temporizing, il
aims to get National power, not upon National
questions but by wrctched policy of expedi-
- 4.
feating the democracy, it finds itself embar-
raised by the heterogeneous character of its
supporters In 184l, after all the wear and
tear Of the Hard Cider campaign, il discovered,
to its sorrow, that il was far easier 10 agree
upon rictory, than 10 agree afterwards upon The
proper mode Of using it, And similar les
son awaits il in Maine, if the fuSiOnists here
shall ever enter upon the power, which they
now claim TO have won at the last election.
The policy Of expedienls has grown out Of
whig defeats. Finding themselves unable to
succeed by force Of their avOwed objects, the
wings have accustomed themselves TO seek
success by indirection. Under Harrison, they
had no priniples for the public eye.' They
went for change, for the sake of change
Under General Taylor their capital consisted
Of the very military achievements which would
never have been won, but for the democratic
party. With General Scott, they tried 10 con-
tinue the race Of heroes, and 10 make Lundy's
Lane. Chippewa and Cheputapec do the same
work for them that had been done by Monterey
and Buena Vista. What will be their policy
in the next presidential Campaign remains to
be seen. They are drifting now towards
combination, which will threaten, if completed,
the very existence Of The government.
In striking and honorable contrast 10 all
this, the Democratic party continues faithfully
| To its mission, aud follows boldly in the path
way of its principles. Turning neither to the,
right hand nor the left in order to win The sup
port Of temporary factions, it never loses its
identity in the honr Of contest, or doubts when
it has triumphed, under what banner il OBJ
tanned success. So faithful, indeed, is it 10 IT,
self, and so constantly does il revert to its car
dina principles for guidance. that its opponents
sheer at consistency they cannot immitate,
and will not approve. The difference, in this
respect, between them and US, is obvious to
every one. Their doctrines are condemned by
the people, and they fear 20 proclaim them
| Ours are sound and popular doctrines, and we
love 10 spread them on our banners, and to steer
| by them as our compass. They have led their
supporters through brilliant career of success,
and they are the only basis upon which this
| Republic can be successfully administered
| Step by step they have some times had TO fight
their way, against odds which seemed resist
less but in the end they have always vindi-
Gated their truth, and extorted homage even
from their opponents What great struggle
has the Democratic party ever had in this coun-
try, where subsequent events did not prove
thai il was right Think of the Alien and Sc
dition Laws Of the war of 1879 ; Of the Bank;
Of the Tariff; Of the Sub Treasury Of Lou
siana ; Of Florida Of The war with Mexico,
aud the acquisition Of California. Think ofthO
contests to which these measures all give rise,
aud consider what now would be the condition
of this country, had they not terminated as
they did terminate, in sustaining the policy Of
the Democratic party. Some men and some
parties like to forget their own histories bus
they who have done well are not ashamed Of
their records. We call upon our political
friends to refresh themselves BY referring 10
the past, for the duties which await them in
the future, and to set their faces as a flint
against any attempts to change the great Dem
ocratc party of this nation from party Of prin-
cipIes, 10 party Of erPedients. Eastern Ar
gus.