The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-11
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF PARTIES.


We entertain q most lively sympathy with all those
presses and politicians who are now busily engaged
in what they call q tho reconstruction of parties
The Richmond Wing the Baltimore American, the
Buffalo Commercial Advertiser the Louisville jour
na and the New York Times have been specially
exercised on this subject. When block of old
rooksry buildings are consumed by fire, we usually
hear the people say I've are glad of that" because
il promises the construction of useful,
ornamental, and creditable to the town. The de-
strncton Of the republican and American parties
certainly indicates that something should be done to
supply their place for, although we are doubly
6dent that with the great democracy Of the United
States il intrusted tho work Of governing the coun
try, still it is desirable that we should have in the
field an organized opposition The present, we con-
fess, promises little to the dsbanded troops Of the
two factions referred to but then again, we must
rscosct that this is world of experiments, and that
their very failures ought To have impaired to them
sufficient wisdom to guide them better in the flu
tnre asa fsAeya. - a59 5aai @fag eas
Taking the ground we occupy-thatit is necessary,
or at least desirable that the democracy should have
ON the field against them organized opposition
forces Of the republicans and Americans few words
of advice. sB iA8i. ~ bs8Aa ai tl iss
Now, gentlemen republicans, we would enlist your
attention FIRST, because you constitute by far the
most considerable political interest in opposition.
You organized your party three or four years ago,
and boldly proclaimed its enets creed to be ssch
az northern mon could alone endorse. II is mani
fest that the very stone of your party the
conceded fact that majority Of the people reside
in the free States, which gave you decetfu promise
that through that majority yon might gain control of
the federal administration. In this view you con-
structed your platform and conducted your political
campaigns to offend and drive of all southern
sympathy and support; hoping thereby that, as the
South should rise in hostility to your organization,
the North would imbibe equally strong sectional
,eadices and array itself yoIir side. 1t is thus
explain the policy of your party. Of course you
never intended that it should contain than
per cent of genuine patriotism, and that
little you could only hope to keep alive by
the personal association of your leaders at the
federal capital who, though engaged in violent
efforts to array section against section, would
continue 10 assert that your main object after all.
You expected to address tile surviving and heredi-
tary enemies Of the democratic party in the south,
and thus heaven, ii possible, your organization.
The recent controversy upon Kansas the first
time you succeeded in drawing to your support
any considerable aid from southern men; and this
aid you gained exclusively from the American party
South. ysr tYs EhG&e& <, Il lw saag ata
Your coalition with the Americans brought you
little to your senses, conveying to You an idea that
your boundaries might be enlarged as to extend
even all over the Union hence we have the sugges-
ton Of the proprety of the reconstruction of par
ties on your side. So much in explanation we say
to you republicans. n r gai gf 81 atst
The American party South lis a limb broken from
the tree and fallen ntomarsly ground; which having
sprouted up gave some promises OF continued growth
and an independent existence The misfortune of that
organization and it's origin is that little dry weather
more than it's feeble roots could bear hence we
find it ready to be transplanted and under the
exclusive training Of northern cnluyators The
American party never, in fact, had any roots and
never gave rational promise Of future life and
growth. 1t is used now by the republicans with no
possible reliance upon its numbers, but simply be-
il il southern organization which II is hoped
may be employed to nationalizs them. 1t is a
kind Of certificate that the latter are not wholly
northern in character, purposes, and scope The
power that 10 to win If such result is possible is
in the North.
With these elements the two factions propose 10
form party. Its name, creed, ritual Of service
it's deacons, wardens, and ministers are matters
which the future must unfold The Louisville Jour-
nal tells the coalition that party to be successful
must be begotten 80 through its period of CESSATION
be born and grow mp into manhood and strength in
irregular, orderly and lawful way. That ia our idea
ofa party Reconstruction" applied to this process
OF production or feproductionis an offensive fraud
nlent sort of word It signifies the action of ooun
Gil Of political doctors and the attempt, by shortl
cut, to produce what be done legitimately only
by another and very different process It signifies.
in fact work Of counterfetag, such as that which
brought into being few years ago the republican
and American parties. We speak Of these things
not with any view Of Encouraging that largo class of
sanguine who think Il is only necessary to pro
claim their views Of political affairs in order 10 com
nand the support Of the people; but with sincere
purpose Of aiding in laying the true foundations of
an organization, in opposition 10 the democracy, \
which wall remain permanently in the field against