Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-04-07
District No. 1.
THE FACILITY OF OUR OPPONENTS IN SELF
DELUs1oE---THE DISTRIBUTION HUMBUG
ONCE MORE ON THE TAPESTRY.

0ELUS10H---THE DISTRIBUTION HUhBUG
ONCE MORE ON THE TAPESTRY.
Human nature under different circumstances
presents variety of phases. But there Is one
principle SO deeply implanted that, like the
north star, it never shifts its position or ceases
to glow. Men are so wisely constituted, that
no disasters this side the grave can wholly de-
prive them of hope aud consolation. The
dropping and almost dying invalid, cherishes
within his fainting aud oft disappointed heart,
the expectation Of discovering some unknown
and untned balm, some potent restorative or
unfaiIiug cure, indefinitely and vaguely re
hected in his day dreams, to be realized by
him before his exit from earth. Tue man of
shattered fortune sees light springing up in the
distant future, and by the magic power of FAM
cy, erects air castles and creates new sources
Of solace and enjoyment. Even the wretch
whom the offended laws, for unexpiated crimes.
have doomed to exile, 10 the gibbet the gal
lows, or the g4illotine, derives comfort from
the respite between the time of his conviction
and the execution of his sentence, and secretly
nurses the embers of hope. Indeed,
and perhaps never was its power more pro-
emincntly displayed, under secular view, than
BY the party opposing the Democracy, in the
State of Virginia, formerly and at the present
day. Adversely has not had the effect to work
in it any wholesome change. No disaster has
hitherto proved sufficient corrective of its
madness and unreasonableness. One catas-
trophe after another has befalen it, for the last
ffty-six years, as it boxed the political COM
pass under different names, and yet it has new
er sunk in despair. Mauing after msuling
has been faithfully administered by the De-
mocracy, and every variety of bastng and
walloping has been resorted to with a view 10
inspire it with common senseIAll without any
beneficial results. And after even long pro
missed and systematic chastisements have been
bestowed, adequate reform has been pro-
Suced. Like naughty truants when the smart
of the ferrule has ceased, it is back TO its folly
and mischief again, and flushed with the hope
of evadpg the penalty. 1t chiIls the hearts
blood and makes the hair stand erect to read
the record Of defeats and overthrows the woes
and sufferings experienced by the antidemo-
cratic party in the ancient Dominion )" yet,
as though the fates had conspired against it
and predestined It for some moro signal mis-
fortune than has hitherto befallen it, and as if
possessed of madness which can only be ac-
counted for BY its former mishaps and unre-
pented crimes, it seems resolved to push its
wild and oft rebuked schemes aud projects to
utter ruin. Experience, which bas cured many
partially insane, and corrected the errors of in
experts, to it is a speechless and Improbable
instructor. It's lessons are hooted and its
judgments decried. Sense ard passion Goth
eyeless) impelled or guided by vanity, insani-
y, or ~stupor deep as Hades, are its chosen
leaders. A rascally cur that has been caught
in neighbours moat house and well fogged
for his thiering, has more improved per-
ception of propriety than this singuIarly in
fatuated party. The bold scars it bears of an
cient and modern drubbings one would sup
pose would be of service as monitors whose
warning voice would deter from similar follies.
Butt form such judgment is to be ignorant
of the instincts and pecuIiarties of this party.
Like the federal party, its immediate and lineal
ancestor, this scion is incursble. An acute
historian has said that "the house of the
Stewards never. proftted by experience" and
the same may be said of the party in Virginia
opposing the, Democracy. 1t reminds US of
che worshipets Of gsernaSEt -P;ouals'
feaflessly throw. themselves beneath the wheels
Of the ponderOus car for the purpose of getting
crushed. The broken limbs, mangled bodies,
and distorted eoantenances Of departed wor-
thies, who fell in former struggles, fail to in
spire the present generation of that party with
becoming horror They boldly enter the lists
like Hector with Achilles although the sturdy
arm of that hero had faftened the plains Of
Troy with the blood of Priam's progeny;
and their fate is as little anticipated though
quite as certain as the Pergamian chisftain's;
and though there isno beleagufed city around |
whose walls their inanimate earcasses may be |
dragged, yet they viii be as publicly and
piteonsly displayed before gazing world by |
their exulting yictors.
The know-nothing partyin Virginia, like
thesdefunet wing part have fallen back upon I
their old game, the protective policy, atwhich
saey have been several times so mercilessly sand
shamefnlly toiled. Its advocates, IN multi.
tndes, have been buried from the year 1924
down % 1916. and Il Is manifest from The
spirit ofthe ov-no.hing press .hatthe mania