Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-04-22
The New Coalition and the DEM
DlrlV


dental contest of 1860. Several of the
opposition Journals have FROM time tc
time let fall vague hints that such was
the case; a republican member of Con
sress indicated it pretty clearly in q
speech in the House a few weeks since;
and the Times and Tribune, e%mbolden-
ed, no doubt, by what they profess to
believe is an irreparable breach in the
democratic party, have openly advocated
it in their columns. In abiding briefly
to some of these evidences of fusion a
few days since, we stated hat the new
organization would be composed Of the
entire black-republican party, a few
southern know-nothings, and the disaf-
fected democrats. Its leading spirits
and managers-in-chie will be Mcssrs.
Seward, Douglas, and Crittendcn; and
though the platform, upon which the
d f3rert elements that are to conn os
the fusion will unite and go before the
country, is not yet definitely agrecd
NEOh: q PASANJ SOIlCSI lOSd MAY UC
formed of what its complexion will be
from the political characters of those
who are to have most to do in framing
it. Mr.. Seward considers the presiden-
cy and Congress as already secured By
reason of the preponderance Of the free
States; and regarding the Supreme
Court, as he no doubt does, as the only
obstacle to the full accomplishment of
his purposes, he will insist upon the
remodelling Of that institution as his
strong plank in the new platform
Judge Douglas will be satisfied with a
recognition of the doctrine of popular
sovereignty, as he now interprets it; and
Mr.. Crittenden willscontent himself
with some slight modification of the
naturalization laws. Upon this, or a
somewhat similar platform, the new or
ganization will be framed, and go into
the canvass of 1850. To defeat the
democratic party and get possession of
the government, it will make a fierce
and desperate struggle. That its sue
cess would result in a breaking down of
the constitution and an early disruption
of the confcderacy there can scarcely be
a doubt. The leading idea upon which
it would administer the government, and
the sectional character Of those whom if
would place in power, would override
he political rights of the minority sec
ton, and leave it without the power to
enforce its equality or independence
within the Union.
But is it possible for this coalition to
succeed? Can a political organization
composed of SO many discordant ele-
mcnts ever secure in its ranks that
unity of sentiment and harmony Of ac-
ton which give to a party power and
strength, and in the absence of which
even the best Of enterprises must fail?-I
Does any man suppose-be his opinion
of the leading know-nothings of the
South ever so bad-that the masses
of that party there, without whose
cooperation the support of such men
US Bell and Crittendcn and Marshall
would be utterly and unavail-
can be drawn into a cordial union
with the followers OF Seward and Doug
las? VIII rot even these leaders them
selves lose interest in the coalition when
they have seen the object for which it
was formed pass into the possession of
their more fortunate rival? All exper-
teaches us to answer in the mega
tive, and the history of all the fusions
hat have heretofore been attempted in
he country justifies US, as we think we
have demonstrated, in coming to the
conclusion that this one must share the
Of its predecessors. They have all
allied Of their purpose-all gone down
5efore the light of truth and Justice
The democratic party has always tri-
implied over thsm. The people under
tand its principles and are familiar
With its history. They know that its
have been the triumphs of
ruth over error, Of correct principles
yer wild dogmas, of national senti-
nents over sectional prejudices. For
ear three-quarters Of a century it has
ad control of the government. 1t !.
ound the nation weak at home and con-
emptible abroad. 1t has given power :
nd strength to its domestic institutions,
nd made it the envy and admiration of
5 sister nations. These things it has
cen enabled to accomplish because the +
of its principles and its pol :
y secured to it the confidence and the
uPport of the people. In alTthe great :
rises OF the country's history, when at
leked by foreign foes, or threatened
18th domestic discussions, the people
ave looked to the democratic party as c
lie protector Of their constitution, the {
Indicator of their national honor, and e
he guardian Of their domestic peace I