Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-24
POLITICAL PARTIES,

to perceive that the two great political parties
into which the country has been divided for
years past, are fast becoming obsolete-old
landmarks obliterated, and party lines broken
down. The machinery which once controlled
and moved the masses, has lost it power. New
issues have arisen, overwhelming and extin-
gushing the effete and settled questions that
have hitherto separated the voters, and the ties
of party have become as ropes of sand. The
two parties which have been ~arrayed in oppo-
sition to each other, advocating different sides
of political questions each equally anxious
for the prosperity of the country-have had
distinctive existence for period of time unu-
sual in our political history From the earliest
period of our existence as a government, diff
ferences Of opinion have existed in regard to
matters of public policy, which have originated
parties, and awakened strife, often of the most
ardent character, and too often bordering upon
bitterness and asperity, engendering acrimony
and il-wil, until the decision of the people set
tied the controversy, or time demonstrated the
wisdom of the one side or the other. When
questions Of policy or principle became settled
or obsolete, then there no longer existed
necessity nor room for antagonism, and parties
resolved themselves back to their original ee-
ment, the people while few years sufficed to
obliterate all traces of the animosities aroused
in the zeal of discussion and party action.
Ordinarily, these distinctive party appella-
tions and separate organizations were in exist
ence but few years, and when questions be-
came settled, the actors stood upon common
ground, and were ready to fuse in support of
new doctrines, or separate in opposition, as
might be but more lately. the machinery of
parties has been perfected, and their power
strengthened and their existence prolonged be-
yond their natural term of existence. The two
parties which have existed for such an unusual
length of time under the designation Of WING
and DEMOCRATIC, owe their prolongation to
combination of political questions of great ma
tional interest, and of rare recurrence 1t is
unusual indeed for any one party to have the
advocacy and settlement Of such number of
important political principles, as has fallen to
the democratic party. 1t has, during its ex-
istence, combatted such an array of errors, and
established so many correct doctrines, that it
is not surprising that its very name has become
revered, and that so many of its gallant vete-
rams cling to it in respect for the memory of
the past.
The democratic party has been emphatically
the party of the Country, of equal rights of
Justice and morality 1t has trumphantly de-
monstrated and established what BENTON calls
the dsal0s k-ateoS-the right and ability of the
people to govern. Originating in the axiom Of
the capacity of the people for seIfgovernment,
it has sought successfully, to mould the legisla-
tion of the country in consonance with that
grand idea-combatting the illiberal policy that
would circumscribe the privileges and preroga-
tives Of the masses, and declares that liberation
and equality would be dangerous to the existence
Of peace and order, and to the stability of our
institutions. Through that tremendous conflict
with the monster Bank-the reverses and final
success which attended the Independent Trea-
sury-through the establishing of a Revenue
Tariff, and Strict Construction of the Consti-
tution-the banners of the Democracy have
been borne by gallant and faithful hearts, until
the just and liberal principles thereon embla-
zoned have become triumphant and are estab-
lished as the settled policy of the country
During the political contests which have agi-
tated the country while mooted questions were
unsettled and combatted, the Democracy have
rallied to the support of the candidates present
ed, almost mechanically. Wecan only vote for
our principles by voting for men who are the
embodiment of those principles, and pledged to
carry them out. So long as great principles
are to be sustained the people care but little
loho are the candidates, or hOw they are brought
before them for their sutfrages Having no
political ambition themselves, the great mass
of the voters are Indifferent upon whom the
honors are bestowed. Hence, the admirable
workings of the machinery of party organiza-
tions. The Democracy, deeply imbued with
the justice of their principles, have for years,
followed their leaders, until those leaders have
become infatuated with the idea, that party Or
ganization was created for their especial bene-
fit and their personal aggrandizement. This
has been the great error of politicians-an error
which has swept the Whig party out of exis-
tenee, and severed and broken up the Democ-
racy into as many fragments as there are
States.
Mstaking devotion to principle on the part
of the people as blind unthinking subservien-
cy to party, for years an attempt has been MAX
ing to engraft into the creed of both the great
political parties of the day new and extraordi-
nary doctrines. Particularly has this been the