Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-02-26
WHAT'S In A NAME!

foIlowInG remarks from its "cotempora-
ry of the Alexandria Gazette
The Richmond Wing advocates the
reorganization of the Wing party in
consequence of the course of a large
portion of those at the North who pro
tcss to belong to the American party.
and as likely to be better effected than
any other movement, and thus again
have but two great parties in the coun-
try-aw hig and democratic party-with
the slavery issue extinct We are per
fectly willing. There is already an en-
tire concert of action IN the South be-
tween the whig and American parties,
making them in opposition to the ultra
isms of democracy, ono and the same;
and since the abandonment of secrecy,
and the disavowal of anything relating
to religious matters by the American
party, and the adoption of the native
American principles by the wing party
in their conventions, there can be no
cause of disagreement. To have two
parties would be as foolish as iEipolitic,
and render both powerless and helpless.
The triumph of true whig and true
American principles is what Americans
and wings desire, and this they viii
strive for IN the midst Of defeat, and
hope for better times, ven with all the
odds against them"
The proposition co~mprehcnded i'll the
above, says the Washington Union, and
which is thus held forth by at least three
whilom whig and quondam k~now-noth-
ing papers of influence, to rechristcn
their party, and call it whig again, since
it cannot prosper under the usurped H.
tie of "American," is nothing less than
the plea of guilty SO stoutly withheld
before the fall of the wing party from
the integrity of its nationality to the in
dictmcnt presented in the o~ft-repeated
couplet-
"-if we cannot alter things,
Why, then, Wen change their n1rno, sir !"
But wing or know nothing, know
nothing or whig, it is all the same to
these journalists if successful war can
only be carried on against the democra-
ey.
We have no objections to all this, and
shall even rejoice at the successful con-
summation of any scheme that will en-
able us again to have "but two great
parties in the country" and especially
with the slavery issue extinct" In
decd, the country will rejoice, and with
good cause, at such an achievement
But how shall it be comprised? The
men of the wing party who were honest,
consistent, and we'll informed with re-
spcct to the true issues of parties, are
now in the democratic ranks, and have
no desire to depart from them; for they
there find conservatism and progress
happily blended, fidelity to the consti-
tuition and the laws, and a determination
that e'the slavery issue shall be "ex
tinct." As they never hoped to realize
a better state of things from the success
of the whig party, they do not regret its
dissolution; as they have only witness
ed the opposite of these proceedings
from the american party, they sim
ccrely rejoice at its downfall; and as the
issue of an hour forms the only basis OF
the republican" party, they will soon
with pleasure contemplate its final dis
solving view. How, then, can q whig,
who was ever honest in his professions,
and who has nobly taken position with
the democracy, now leave it to c~oalesce
with any of these organizations or rcor-
carnations? The suggestion is pre-
Posterous, and "our cetemporaries' arc
doing great injustice to their reputation
for ordinary sagacity in proposing it.
Sections may still be Influenced by
their prejudices; citizens may still BIZ
embittered against each other by appeal:
to their prejudices on account of birth OIL
parentage; and religious hatred may b.
kindled where only ardent religious con
victions are now glowing. Here All
fields open to the enterprise of those
who wish to build up an opposition t.
the democratic power of the country
but when men come to talk about a grea'
national party in opposition to that nov
towering above all the factions in thu
land, they must pardon h smile o
derision that involuntarily plays upo1
the features Of every one whose cleal
head and honest heart serve to guide hin
by wise inductions to just and dircc
conclusions. Rely upon it, there will b.
no recessions to the galvanized party
call it by what name you will.
But, after all, is this suggestion o
our contemporaries anything more thar
an invitation to the republicans to Goa
Lessee with the Southern Am~ericanize
wings for the purpose of forming on
great party antagonistic to the demo
cratic party? How can we have ONLY
''two great parties in the country" un
less there is an ~amalgamation of all tn,
elements of opposition to the democra
cy? We have seen and noted the indi
cations in the republican ranks, eve.
.. AL c-e;Ion4;ol oloo4;o, 46o4 -1..1