The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-20
THE PRESENT SOURCE OF DANGER TO THE DEM
ocRATIC PARTY


able state of disntegration imbeciliy and democrat
ization among the natural adversaries Of the demo
cratic party. With their conflicting. creeds all
pudiated by the people unable to bring forward
decent pretcxt Of opposition to the democractic
principles and measures which have become the
fixed policy Of the country beaten before the
people in every form Of organization in which they
have presented themselves and incapable of uniting
upon any common ground Of alliance, offensive or
defensive, against the democratic partythe piebald
array OF republican abolition, know-nothing federal
opposition, present hopeless picture of defeat,
discord, and Generalization. The politics of the
country has never before presented aspect
hopeless for the opposition or so promising for the
triumphant democracy now, if the democracy
were but true to themselves. 1t has become appa-
rent to the world that democratic principles and the
democratic organization absolutely invincbe to
outside attack and that their discontinue or de-
feat is a work which none other but democratic
hands capable of accomplishing.
The only ugly feature in the politics of the hour is
the fact that the democratic party, its and meas
ures, are subject to formidable attack only from
those processing allegiance to its organization, and
claiming fellowship with tho very which they
are sabbing to the heart.
The history of this detection, this treason, has
been marked by forbearance on the part Of the
party itself as signal has been the violence and
wantonnoss of the domestic attack of which it has
been the object. Indeed this forbearance has been
claimed by the recusants duty incumbent upon
the party; insomuch that the natural right of
selfdefence is denied it, and the simple act of pro-
tecting itself from assault and vituporaton poured
upon it day after day week after week. month after
mouth, without cessation, by the secedcrs, is do.
nounced an aggression upon individual indie
pendence, and arrogant exercise Of party tyranny
There is point in the policy of party towards
insubordnate members at which forbearance ceases
to be virtue The wises of our household proverbs
admonishes the most induIgont of parents that to
spare the rod is to spoil the child.
The democratic party of this country has never
failed to conquer its avowed enemies. 1t has met
them upon every issue they have chosen to present
and upon every field on which they have rendered
battle. 1t has met them, often in and doubt
full struggle, but always to conquer and to over
throw.
It's great danger is not now from the outside; it
is from within Our party has won too many vic
tories over the advocates of bad principles vicious
measures, and destructive heresics; it has achieved
too much for the constitution and for the Union it
is too essential to the country and to the success of
free institutions to be allowed after all the trumphs
it has achieved it's outside adversaries, to be
set upon and pulled to pieces. by mad and bad men
from within, who, failing to obtain the rule in its
organization, are bent upon its ruin.
The great question at present with the party is
how to deal with this domestic detection and that
question presents simply the issue, whether the de-
lection shall be allowed to go unchecked until.
it shall have accomplished all the mischief it can
achieve, or whether efectual measures shall be
taken at once to confront it and counterfeit the in
jury it is endeavoring to infic upon the party The
democratic party never lost anything by bold and
frank defence Of its policy. On the contrary, its
greatest successes have been won by a thorough
and searching discussion of all public questions be-
fore the people. If experience has taught the value
of this policy in dealing with open enemy, shall
we disregard its precepts when we como to deal
with enemies fighting under the cloak of friends?
We not, therefore, disposed to take position
among those who counsellng silence and inert
ness, while a portion of the democratic pot
clans of tho North with few infatuated abcttors at
the South assang the party for its action in the
affair of Kansas We have heart for conflict with
men who have oncc stood high in the ranks of the
democracy. Our inclinations have been for peace
and for federation, and we have incurred infinitely
more ccnsure for the forbcarance with which we
have treated them in the past stages of this defec-
ton, than has even been showered upon our heads
by rccusant democratic journals for what little Of
robuke and cxpostulation have directed at their
leaders. But the true men of the party cannot avoid
controversy that is wantonly forced upon them
but must join issue, and let the consequences fall
upon the heads of the real aggressors.
We confess that we were among those who hoped
for several weeks thatthc settlement of the Kansas
controversy which proffered by Congress in the
Conference Bill If not approved, would at least be
acquiesccd in. by the larger portion of tho antLe-
compton democrats who had separated themselves
during the winter from the body Of the democratic
party. Abundant assurances had been given that
this would be the case, by men who are now most
prominently endeavoring to rip up that settlement.
and to reopen the controversy. We say we hopcd
for we cannot say that our faith in tho word aud IN.
- H. - III