Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-16
SsThe Coalition Of all the elements o
tho Opposition" Is it likely to sue
coed

"1u0 COdIItlOQ Of all the clements o.
tho Opposition" Is it likely to sue
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This question Of the coalition of all tn,
opposition factions, for the purpose Of over
throwing the Democratic party, is one very
much mooted Of late, and during the whole
discussion. the most natural question for .
sensible man to ask himself is, whether the
expressed willingness Of the Richmond
Wing and the other southern papers tt
unite with the New York Times and Other
northern journals and politicians is sufficient
to blend two parties heretofore (professedly,
SO bitterly opposed to each other and with
principles so completely antithetical. It is
our object in this article to discuss at some
length the probability Of such result.
When we consider the relative strength
of the Black Republican and Know Moth.
ing parties, we would be apt to conclude
that coalition between those two parties,
means nothing more nor less than cession
by the latter Of all their old principles
and general stampede into the ranks Of
the former, and if this was the expressed
intention of the Know Nothing press, we
should begin to feel some apprehension at
the idea Of coalition Of all the elements
of the opposition parties" but such is not
their plan of action it is that each should
eschew their former principles,-in fact
lose their identity in grand coalition on
some issue heretofore unheard Of, or entire
ly obsolete and forgotten. Now that the
Know Nothing party, whose only object is
to overthrow the democracy and obtain
its place, will agree to this policy, we
have very little doubt, but that the Black
Republican party, which was raised to
its present greatness by the hold which a
one idea had and still has, on a deluded
people, and whose very existence depends
on the spirit Of opposition to slavery which
characterizes the public mind of the North,
will consent to give up that one idea,-
will consent to strike out that life-giving
principle from their platform, is too much
for the most credulous to believe for mo-
ment; and should the leaders Of the abo-
lition party prove such arrant simpletons as
to comply with the request, nay, prayer, of
the Southern wing of the opposition, it is
obvious that the masses Of the party, SO
soon as the principle which they loved is no
more to be found in the ranks Of the Black
Republican party,-so soon as the motive
power which bound them together is re-
moved, will disband and seek some other
organization more congenial to their fanati-
cal temperament.
Again, should the leaders Of tho different
wings of the opposition succeed in coaxing
the abolitiopists from their present plat
form, (Which is improbable) and should
the Know Nothings succeed in obtaining
an equal stand in the proposed coalition
and an equal share in the anticipated plum
der, (Which is impossible), what issue do
they propose to divide the country and stake
the presidential election on in 1860? Do
they intend to exhume some obsolete cues
ton of the past? We think that can hard
ly be their intention, for their old policy of
Federal consolidation has fallen SO low that
none are $50 mean as to do it reverence.
The National bank is an exploded theory,
advocated by none but the Oldest fogies of
the fogy battalion; the protective tariff the
DRY has been refuted so often by unanswer-
able argument that it is only whisperingly
supported BY few of the hardest and most
incorrigible Of the old line Wings, and the
distribution of the public land question fell
stubborn, or at least, was strangled in the
very dawn of it's existence. We think all
the old issues have been so fairly tested, and
the opposition have been SO often beat out
on them that they will hardly have the
pluck to face the democracy again on them.
Seeming to feel the force of this, the oppo-
sition are casting around for some new ques-
ton, untried before, on which the diff
ferent wings of their party may consistently
meet. In our opinion, the difficulty of or
ganizing party on some new issue, gotten
up for the occasion, would be far greater
than to unite on some one of the obsolete
and almost forgotten issues, which are still
remembered with reverence and affection
by many of the old line Wings and FEEDER
alists of by-gone times.
1t is easy for politicians to become verv
much excited over any question which
promises power and plumber to themselves
and friends, but the good sense Of the masses
will revolt at the idea of an issue gotten IN
solely to suit the exigencies of political
canvass, Or for the purpose of overthrowing
any particular party. The issue which d.
vides great people, is not the handiwork
of politicians and aspiring place-men; it is
self generating, self-sustaining, arising from
some great exigency Of the times, needing