The Washington union., 1858-02-11
THE REPUBLICAN pARTY-wHAT is TT1

We venture to say that we have propounded a
question which it is most difficult to answer. We
submit the inquiry in no irreverent or even partisan
spirit. We want to know something of the elements
the purposes and the character of the republican
party. To say that it is sectional organization,
confined exclusively to the free States, that it seeks
control of federal affairs through the conceded ma
jories of the North, is not enough. II has no his
tory, no nationality and of course patriotism. 1t
is mere storm cloud filed with destructive ele
ihents-witli the POWERS of evil Its rise has been
rapid, as its life has been threatening. Its growth
has signazed the coming of doubts, misgivings,
and dstrust about the value and the possibility of
maintaining the integrity of the federal Union 1t
has divided us into two parts in sentiment, in feel
ing, and in action. 1t has raised up and stimulated
into life intense political hatreds 1t has sought to
array the North against the South, and the South
against the North. tits, then, a disunion party it
is more, it is destructive, deceptive political
ganzation, that for temporary possession of Office
and power is ready to sacrifice the prosperity and
the common welfare of this great nation. We do
not use this manner of speech in partisan spirit
and meaning. We have cpithets no coarse Ian
guage of detraction and abuse to apply to the re-
publicans. We respect political parties; we believe
in their good offces-that they stimulate honesty.
They the watch of the ship; the detectives of
the police the picketgnard of the army. They
promote investigation and reflection they hold the
representative to account, and visit corruption and
villany with quick rcbuke. The history of this gov
ernmcnt is history of parties. 1t originated in
party; in the democratic spirit of independence
which gave it its name and its attributes.
Have we in the United States political parties
contendng for controlpolitical parties addressing
their claims to the people of the confedcracy? No
The democracy il without such contestant. II has
such rival We met by faction in the
Nortl-and faction it will be- and that only
when, if ever, its numbers shall overwhelm the
democracy and the Union together. II is idle and
wicked to attempt to conceal from The American
people the great fact that the triumph of the repub
is the overthrow of the very principle and sen
ment upon which the constitution framed and
adopted There is not one political hcresy in this
country fatal to its peace and welfare than that
blind feeling which exists that the constitution itself
is an instrument of power. There is no strength in
Ilal CoPdci, WHICH s not Impaired 10 III Dy the peo-
pie and the States in the current relations OF the
day. When the value of the Union shall cease to be
appreciated its members shall become rivals
instead of allies and frcnds-its covenants will dis
solve into air, and it's bonds be exchanged for impe-
mens of war.
Is it within the power of man TO conceive plan
by which these bonds be sooner weakened and
destroyed than by the organization of what we call
the republican party? All concede that the imbit-
tered feeling, too common, between the free and
the slave States, is the point of greatest weak
ness If there is danger it is there. If the consti-
tuition is threatened it is there. If we look for the
of present estrangement present contentious
and misapprebensions, it is there If we regard the
future, instnctivey turn to the sections to tell
us the tone of public sentiment that we may count
the chances Of national life hereafter The eve of
the nation is upon the sections than upon the
Union.
Then what is the republican partyY We may not
say il is reasonable, illegal, or criminal. We cannot
deny the right of its organization We have no
power to suppress it, But we do say Il is a faction
that it is wholly wanting in magnanmity and broth
erly attributes. We deny it all patriotism for it
nearly half the States of the Union and
seeks to array the other half in bitter hostility against
them It's policy is narrow illiberal and bigotod.
It seeks to gain power not alone by numbers but by