Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-04-24
The Portsmouth Tribune.

AWo weeks ago, ny way Oh little az.
version, We punched brother Mac FAR.
LAND, Of the Portsmouth Tribune, on the
score Of political consistency. Our
good'natured cotemporary rejoins, and
makes about the na,tesi stature, .fszle.
tallacy," we have seen lately. We pity
him some.
We knew that brother Mac was not
The Editor the Tribune in so, but that
doesn't alter the case. The Tribune was
once Wing paper. I, is a Wing paper
still. in principle--for changing name
is wretched expedient for destroying
identity. None but scamps will do il.
Well, the Tribune, in '52, was Wing, so
was brother Mac FAaLASD. They are
thus identified. and Mac is disingenuous
in disowning the relationship. He ought
to hove more manhood than 10 shirk
from his old faith and friends in this way.
''Mr Leete finds fault with the American Be-.
form party. He thinks the doctrines very per-
nicious, and the policy very dangerous. TO
prove this. he cites wha! Mr.. So .andso said in
1885 and in 1882
l am surprised at Macs levity in al.
.luding to such distinguished Whig as
the late Governor RIrNER as "Mr. So.
snd.so." Why, the boy hasn't been
taught good manners. He should speak
respectfully Of his be,'ers. The memo.
~ Of the Hero Of the "Buckshot War"
is mo. to be thus impuden,ly insulted.-
Yet it only proves what Democrats have
oil along said tina: Wing champions
would one day be as completely ignored
by their own adhercn.s as ever their Fe.
dsral fathers were. BIT it's a shifting
arti6ce, nevertheless.
''To allthis referring 70 Rrrsrs's Inaugural
and the teachings Of 'ail the talents and decen-
cy in the Whig party during the period from
1924 to 1854 1--WE hear would briefly reply
that while Truth is eternal principles are pro.
gressive."
This is a novel distinction | suspect
that brother MAcFAnLASD doesn't see his
way through the subject. He is, indeed,
q knoao. nothing. A principle is the
ground or foundation which support. an
assertion, an action, or a series of actions
"a general, fixed, immutable truth /; a
law comprehendins many Subordinate
truths. Principles, in the abstrlct, are
not progressive. Measures are so. Pro.
hably the latter is what Mac meant, but
in his confusion Of terms and ideas, he
;couldn': distinguish clearly. The prin.
,ciples of Christianity were as fixed in
The first century as they are to-day. The
principles Of Mathemat;c science have
stood frp IA, ages. So Of society and
government. Phaf;seeism. Toryism.
Legitimacy, Federalism, Anti. Masonry,
Whiggcry, Hinlooiam, or whatever name
you give 10 the Conservative element,
nfe the same--jus. the same-in all ages
"What was sound policy and healthy legis-
Ration in the earlier history OF our country
may be very unsound and suicidal at the pres.
ent epoch. We might enlarge upon this by.
pothesis 'ad infRtum' and cite evidence of its
correctness, were we so disposed"
Why. that's downright wholesome
Locofocoism +! But it isn't relevant to
xhs matterin dispute. Legislation refers
70 Ineasuies--not to principles. You
can no mora legislate principles into OK.
;stsnce than you can legislate world
Into being. Measures, however,. must be
referred 10 some fixed axiom or princi.
ple, OF else they are mischieeous. Do
tel ~. bro!hsr MAcFAxLASD, upon what
yspGbliean principle men are to bs pro.
isctibsJ on account Of tho accident Of
bir,h. 81 tho profession of particular
fsiihi %, brother. |. would crafty us
~ much !! .s,.ysl -. e
.Assin. w Goaserss.ivs pariy-with
sSish bsoihsf t1AcF4 4slAsp' has always
aetad- I'm. bsSsd their orssnlss,ion
md lAsh issliss sPon hostility 10 secret
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