The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-09
THE TRIITMpHs OF THE ADMINISTRATION AMI
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

condition of tho democratic party" even as modified
by its leading article of the 4th inst, which we
transfer to our columns to-day Whatwe have said,
and what the Herald admits is that the successes of
the administration, SO far have been the solid tri
umphs of principle over faction; and we now re-
peat that such victories always inure to the excu
sive benefit of the democratic party The results of
the last eight months experience constitute no ex
ception to this rule; the contrary more than in
any other series of events connected with poit
cal history has the policy Of the party which seeks
by all possible MEANS to strengthen the bonds of the
Union and to cultivate spirit of friendship and
fdence amongst all its members, been vindicateC
insomuch that the opposition are utterly "demoral
ized torn and shattered to the extent of being
unable to arrange place Of rendezvous Of depar-
ture, or to agree even upon common destination.
When our contemporary admits the success of Mr..
Buchanans administration upon the vital question of
principle we hold that to follow such admission by
the declaration that the democratic party, whose
faithful representative he is, is tattered and torn,
is an impeachment of the good sense and patriotism
of the American people, charging them with either
want of appreciation of what is honest in govern
ment, or with factous opposition to the President
himself We see no evidence of the justice of either
Of these propositions.
1t is true that the administration inherited two or
three troublesome questions We are not disposed
to look into their origin or to find fault with those
who have had the charge of them. They were of q
character essentially difficult to manage, the more
difficult because they were in proper sense po-
litical in their nature. They had been thrust upon
the democratic party by the fierce dsmagogues who,
through their agency. had sought to overthrow and
degrade it. The slavery question had been Of near
a half-century's growth. Political traders in the
North with view Of enlistng sectional prejudices
and thereby commanding the federal Offices through
northern majorities had everywhere proclaimed that
it was the purpose of the South to force slavery into
the public Territories up to the Canadian pos
sessions. This was Mr. Stewards warning at Co
lumbus Ohio. The democratic party had taken the
ground that the people Of the place should settle such
matters in their own way. In practical point of
view this principle of adjustment gave all advan-
tagcs to the North for the great avenues of emf
grafton to the West were filed by free-State men.
But the principle was adopted because it just,
because it was constitutional because it simply pro.
posed that the people should govern themselves.
Yet it is manifest that in enforcing even such
principle in the midst of great sectional excitement,
which could not fail to impair the strength of the
democratic party, more or less difficulty would be
encountered. 1t was in meeting and overcoming
these difficulties in great degree that the President
achieved signal triumph, in reference to which the
Herald and ourselves agree.
Now, what we claim is that these successes have
greatly strengthened the democratic party else,
we see the present and future they not victories
but practical defeats.
In kindred way, ON former occasions, in which
the Herald performed distinguished part, we had
met and put down detection in the democratic ranks
upon the Wilnot proviso and again the excitement
about the fugitive-slave law in 1850, and the
pervading stampede of 1854 on the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise and the enactment of the Kan
sas law. In truth, these were steps leading up
wards to the eliminating foles of 1878. 81
We never should overlook tho fact, especially
when new administration comes into power, that
there are many members Of Congress who like fruit
picked from the popular tree before it is fully ripe
require good deal Of brushing and rubbing to give
them even the appearance of maturity and perfee
ton There are others again who have been so much
IN tho pubic service as not clearly 10 understand
whether they belong to the State or the State be-
longs to them These constitute always difficult
people to get along with, and it is only now and
then, on great questions, that it is possible to adj
minister to them those depletive remedies which
alone are of any value Precisely these political dis
cases Mr. Buchanan had to prescribe for in meeting
the first democratic Congress under his presidency
and it must be confessed, when wo recolect the
healthy action Of the legislative system for the last
month of the session, it will be hardly possible to
sustain an objection to the medicine administered.
The difference upon political matters between the
Herald and the Union is this We support demo-
cratic principles and organizations; the Herald sup
ports democratic principles, and is quite Indifferent
to organizations. The Heralds position is like one
who hears praises, but refuses to pay the preacher
like saying an act is nobly performed, but denying
credit to the performer in fact like maintaining the
justice of great principle in government. but in
sispg that hereafter justice will be showered upon
us like rain without human agency In the army we
reward high deeds by promotion in the pulpit and
in all the professions and relations of life the same
rule prevails and we would carry it into politcs
Besides, political organizations constitute material
part. of tho machinery of government, and, as the