Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-24
APRIL "a, 1855.
THE BEREAVEMENT OF THE AD-
NIINISTRATION

and State. With this serious conviction, it is
with much qualification that we have it in our
power, from SO reliable an authority as the
Washington Union, to announce to the Ameri-
can people that the present Administration has
had so commendable regard to this consefva-
tive principle as to avoid what in our judg.
ment would otherwise have been monstrous
evil. The Union, hitherto considered the Ad-
minisration organ, declares itself not only no
e,;y4a, 81 ed, but what IS even more GLORIOUS
an independent journal, responsible to no tribu
nal but that Of the deliberate opinion Of our
countrymen, &c. We ourselves have had no
higher ambition than to be the organ Of the
Democratic party, and therefore give it our
cordial greeting upon our own platform, and
shall feel toerably inclined TO forgive its surly
disregard Of Our eriStence-the only consistency
hitherto it has mauifesed-if it will maintain
the independent stand it has at last taken.
Conducted with an ability that challenges crit-
cism-evincing consistency in HSey "a
jewell avoiding all sycophancy to the powers
that Expressing on all occasions its manly
and defiant opinions in the very teeth of the
Administration itself, the Washington Union,
now that its true position and relations to the
Administration have been So frankly defined,
will be most important and efficient coadju-
tor in the effort to reconcile the differences OF
our once united party, and dispel the clouds
that lower upon our political household. In
this proper and patriotic purpose, then, we for
give, and freely forgive, our neighbor for all
former causes Of difference between us; and,
hoping that by-gones may be by-gones, 90 hand
in hand with it to gather up the fragments tina:
remain Of party whose principles two short
years ago were endorsed by twenty-seven of the
thirty-one States Of our American coniederacy.
We have said, and with unaffected sincerity,
that we knew III our limited editorial expert
ence no journal that had SO eminent and envi-
able talent for indiscriminate eulogy as our
neighbor, and we are truly thankful for, and
anticipate great good from, the new direction
that will be given to this talent for the benefit
of our own principles and the good Of our own
party. In thus commencing, however, this
change, no less startling than gratifying to our
readers, we may be pardoned for dropping a
tear over the sad bereavement to the Admins
traton-a bereavement, like all others, that
time and occupation alone can heal or assuage
Republics are said to be ungrateful, but let
| the Administration be consoled in the fact that
it is not the first time that the patriotism
Of this independent Journal THAT "no Gov
eminent patronage has been able to hamper
or control in the free expression Of its opiu-
ions, j has constrained it to desert it. Deser
ton and betrayal do not always imply the
principle-or rant Of H-of Judas or an
Arnold; they may sometimes be honorable,
and, in public matters especially, may some
times be forced upon US by peculiar duty to
the public veal. Hence the Washington
UnioR-our new ally-deserted the Admins
tration thrice upon the Pacific Railroad, t,cice
upon the Tariff and Free Trade questions, de-
serted it thrice upon the Nebraska bill-two
out Of the three times 6rduely in the teeth Of
the popular pW. 1t is, therefore, not the first
time that the Administration has had cause to
mourn. Man was made to mourn. Admins.
trations however virtuous, cannot hope to es.
cape this common lot, and we should bewail
its want Of Christian fortitude if this Admin
istration should, like the weeping Rachel, re-
fuse TO be comforted In the loss Of its organ,
let i not recognise an inconsolabe grief
There are other journals which might, as a
matter Of charity, be prevailed upon to become
its organ-though its deceased organ says,
| "the Administration never desired to have an
organ Thus we conclude, irresistby, that
the Union has Rerer had the organship, though
IL said IL hdd-or the Union has been repudi-
ated by the Administration and not for the first
tme-or that the Union has done, what is not
probable, flor few die and none resign Ten.
dered its resignation Of the organising. To re-
sign is one thing-to be resigned to that resig-
nation quite another. The Union has, how.
ever, resigned its reputed relation to the pres
ent Administration, and thus magnanimously
renquishes its claims to the good the Admin.
istration may have DONE and equally disclaius
responsibility for The folies and errors that il
has unwittngly committed. The Natiouai H.
tUigcaca, with badly disguised illhumor,
congratuates the country upon this grave an.
nouncement and we half suspect that, not con-
tent with being the organ itself Of the Kao,c.
nothing purity and the indisputable organ Of
foreign governments in our own country, il
seriously designs being a candidate for the
administration organsLp. like Aaron's rod.
swallowing up everything)
We are really afraid Of this. The late eulo-
gies Of the hteiHgencer upon the President and
his cabinet-the FIRST qualification no,o-a-elaps
Of an Organ-the prediction as to what he
and they have too much wisdom" and "too
much learning" to do; and our distrust Of their
intention % do anything in the case in point
all give evidence that the Latelhgeacer, if il be
not in the confidence Of the Administration. Is
at least wise in lie own connait Non 80 L.