The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-03


out of the democratic party is strange question to
enlist public inquiry. We presume the support Of
principles and of party organization to involve de-
grees some, having greater capacity and experience,
doing more than others. He who yields chaste,
loyal aud energetic effort in behalf of his party is
easily distinguished, and are the different de-
grees of fidelity manifested by individuals away down
to the neutral ranks If it is possible thus to dis
tinguish good faith and loyal adherance to polti-
cal organization it is certainly possible to point out
the reachery and shortcomings of those who fail to
meet their obligations. party is not a close cor
poraton, the members of which are voted in
or out of the concern. Membership is matter of
public credit and is distinguished by what the ind
ydual himself does, and not by what is done by 9TH
ers. Apostacy is decided by the conduct Of the
person and the withdrawal Of confidence on the part
of his former associates If the individual has been
prominent and largely trusted, his fidelity is always
matter Of PRIDE as his forfeiture of confidence is OF
deep reprobaton In the latter case he is simply
regarded as an apostate, and his identity fixed as
such 1t would be strange condition of things il
the ona line of political dcserters who have aban
doned the democracy and gone over to the enemy
sboud be credited as worthy members of their
former organization, simply because they carried
with them credentials Of good standing with those
tbey had betrayed This rule would bring us into
fellowship with the New York Evening Post and
with such specialities Preston King Chase, Hale,
Uamln. and others. In this view let us look at the
nosition of Mr.. Douglas for moment and his con-
duct in the Senate last winter and now on the stump
in his own State.
Mr. Douglas sets up an arrogant claim to dictate
TO the people Of Illinois what is and what is not
Democratic and who is and who is not q democrat
He arragns the administration and the party IN Con-
gress for attempting to carry out gross fraud upon
the country. and felicitates himself that he took
early ground against and finally defeated it, He i'm
peaches in other words nearly all his former polti-
cal associates of high crimes and misdemeanors and
invoices the special gratitude of the people of his
own State on account Of his agency in detecting and
defeating the culprits. This be it remembered, is
the position Of a gentleman who claims to be pure
democrat and true friend of the great party which
has done so much for him and the country.
We suggest to the democracy of the United States
that the two positions Of the senator from Illinois are
utterly at war with each other. If he was a friend
of the party, even if great mistake had been COM
mitte6, he would not have found it possible to ar
raign his former associates and charge them with
such gross political crimes If he still desired to
promote tho interests, maintain the character, and
secure the triumph of the democracy, we can hardly
comprehend how he could assail them with such bit
ter epithes father does not correct the errors OF
his children by public announcement Of their vlany
friendship which is incapable Of forbearance is no
friendship at all soldier that sees the mistake OF
his superior and runs off and proclams it to the en-
envy is not soldier, but traitor. Granting all
Mr. Douglas claims, he is still without shadow
of justification for his reachery The spirit he has
manifested is not modification that his friends had
made blunder, but delight at the opportunity of
denouncing them. He did not consult with them
and quietly demonstrate, which would have secured
the respect of all ; but, in moment of political pas
sion, he set to work to denounce them and to call
around him the hereditary enemies Of his former
party. But on closer scrutiny, Mr.. Douglas, the
merits of the case, was wholly in the wrong. He
spoke in the Senate for the applause Of the common
enemy. He addressed words of treason, and de-
family proclaimed his unalterabe hostility to
sure which was adopted by the almost unanimous
voice Of the democracy. twas a just measure con-
ceived in the spirit Of patriotism and designed to
remove from the halls of Congress question which
had not only disturbed the peace of the country but
threatened the existence of the Union, This mea-
did not meet the views of Mr.. Douglas. On
account of that fact do not contend with or COM
plain of him. If he had been friend sincerely DIFF
fering with friends, he would have met them and
sought accommodation upon some basis upon
which entire harmony could have been maintained.
But this was not his conduct. lie required the
mountain to go over to Mahomet. He was the
democratic dictator. He would be satisfied with
nothing short of submission to him. Ho called the
republicans to his support, and opened his batteries
upon his former friends without even the formula Of
n proclamation Of
Now, what we have to say is, that the position OF
Mr.. Douglas is of essential hostility to the dem
ocratic party. We maintain that he is a traitor by
action, design and position lie is not reformer ;
for hs denounces the friends and appauds the enc
mics of tho democracy. He does not seek to apply
remedy, but to destroy the patientnot to remove
disease but to PROSTATE tho subject He is traitor
then, in his very nature because he forgets disre-
CARDS and overlooks the high interests of the de-
mocracy, seeking only to enlarge his own fame AT