Washington telegraph., 1856-06-04
A GLANCE AT THE OPPOSITION.

A GLANCE AT THE OPPOSITION.
The papers in this State advocating the
cause of the party now dominant, are at
work with will, in the decidedly up hill
business, of exchanging congratulations
and making themselves excessively merry
over the apostacy-as they facetiously term
lt-of the Hon. Solon Borland, Genl Jas.
Yell and Capt. c. C. Danley, from what
they are pleased to term the Democratic
party. When the friends of these gentle
men, and all others who look below the sur
face. reflect upon the fact that Major Bor-
land and Capt Danley, have, on more than
one occasion, been elevated by the express
sion of the untrammeled will Of the people
of Arkansas, to high and honorable and
responsible stations, at the expense of the
intense desires and strenuous efforts
of their present defamers to defeat them.
1t does net seem quite so startlingly
strange that these latter gentlemen should
rejoice at diminution in the number. of
their rank and fle-and very percepti-
bic loss to the amount of talent and
ability which the once powerful Democratic
party could count upon as adjuncts to their
cause. And further, when we and all 9th
ers, who know anything about the facts in
the case take into consideration Gen. Yell's
popularity and more than fair prospect for
success, as the candidate of the American
party, for the office of Governor of Arkan-
sas, it ceases to become at all astonishing,
that they who may with perfect safety rely
upon bis efforts, for the overthrow of their
schemes for the retention Of power, should
avail themselves of any pretext. no matter
how frivolous, or how palpably absurd, to
counteract the influence, which, ezerted by
the innate force Of the principles of the
American party. is leading the people, to
the enthusiastic support of the recognized
champions of these principles.
But this charge of apostacy, as urged
against the above named gentlemen, spe-
cially-and in direct terms, is singularly
inconsistent feature in the contest in which
our opponents are engaged. 1t is a fact
worthy of attention in this connection, that
these gentlemen attached themselves to the
American party, at time when the pros
poets Of the party were By no means aatter-
ing. Assuming the general rule of conduct
by which place hunters and spoilsmen are
aetuated, as the criterion, in forming our
opinion Of tie motives by which they we're
ac,uated, in announcing their adoption of
the principles of the American party, as
their political creed; merely FOR the purpose
Of meeting the paramount objection which
the opposition urge against them-not that
we Or any of the party are at all disposed
TO allow them to be classed in any such cat
egory; we need hardly observe that, in view
of the time at, and the circumstances under
which they attached themselves to the Am
erican party, no sinister motives can pro-
perry be aScribed to them; and in address
ing themselves to the people, to this effect,
with view Of prejudicing them against
these dreaded foes Of the party in power,
these parties toa somewhat vindictive pros
ecution, are only pursuing a course which
will inevitably result in their own discomG-
ture; for not more does it bchOoye the peo-
pie to examine into the merits of those per
sons who as the representatives OF party,
seek political preferment at their hands,
than to examine into the principles Of the
party whose doctrines they are called upon
to endorse And very confident are we that
when the cause Of the American people, is
properly understood, just then, and without
delay Or failure, will Ke have the pleasant
privilege of declaring decisive victory.
over a. political creed, which more intoler-
ant than any other, towards all who. refuse
to conform TO its teachings, has most unques-
tiOnably the right to boast of possessing
as its most powerful constituent element. a
devotion on the part Of its followers.-which
in better cause, would be worthy of emu
latlon-;o the great principle, that,
TO the victors belong the spoilsx'
*See letter of the present Secretary of State,
the exact date of which we have forgotten.