The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-15
BALTIMORE.
SATURDAY, MAY Is, 1855.

1.-THE reconstruction of parties Is just now the
subject of a vast deal of newspaper discussion
MANY journalists seem to have an idea that polit-
cal Parties can be made TO order, just as a carpen
ter would build q ship or a house. They think
that the country at large can be supplied with pol
tics to suit, easily tailor can fit man with
coat--by measurement. 1t is only necessary to hit
the popular fancy, in the choice of platform and
a candidate: the work is done, the party is Or
ganized, and its success is certain. Whether the
platform should be made for the party or the par-
ty for the PLATFORM appears to be entirely optional
In either event, the process is equally easy. Let
the platform be but long enough and broad enough
to leave room for all shades and differences of
opinion to stand together upon it, without iostling,
and strong enough to last through presidential
campaign and to hold out until the spoils of Office
have been duly apportioned among the needy,
and therefore deserving members of the Party so
constructed; and every requisite of political Or
ganization is deemed to be fully answered At the
present low ebb of patriotism and honesty among
public men, and in the lax state of political moral
lty among the people at large, it is not surprising
that such ideas as these should find favor among
journalists and politicians who not having been
among the lucky at the last presidential con-
test are anxious to provide stepping stones where
by they may walk into the possession of place
and power, at the next. The selfish and per-
so~ol aims of those who thus busily urging the
necessity for "a reconstruction of parties" at
The present time, are too transparent not to be at
once seen through. Old gentlemen, members OF
the former Wing Party, who failed of being OPP the
winning side two years ago, and who Therefore dis
like the idea of supporting the present Administra
ton, yet can not reconcile themselves to the evil
association of the Republicans naturally in
favor OF "a reconstruction OF parties" The Six
Gentlemen who compose certain '1ittle Party
in the House of Representatives, and who find
themselves in an awkward minority on all questions
involving their peculiar tenets respecting Foreign
Emigration and the Pope of Rome may also be
supposed to be somewhat favorably disposed to-
wards IA reconstruction of parties' All parties,
in fact, who hold losing hands, may be considered
rs ready for a new cut and deal Men who applied
for office, and for jobs, under the present Admins
tration, and who were refused-men, who think
that they might have got offices or jobs under
different Administration, -these naturally concur
in wishing for change. But will wishing bring
"''''t
benefit the people and the country? Are the in
terested motives of these advocates for New Par
ties likely to infuse greater purity into our political
contests, or into the Administration of the Govern
ment, should it fall into their hands? Must not
the formation of Parties necessarily be the natural
and spontaneous result of circumstances? Can
great Parties grow out of any but great questions?
Must not the posture of public affairs determine
alike the position of Parties, and the opinions
OF citizens, with reference to political questions
In every free government, and in a pure and
healthy state of political feeling, ought not
this, at all times, to be the case? We have
no faith in the sincerity of the men who are
thus camorous for reconstruction. In the full
ness of time, when new and important issues arise,
about which men can differ, and differ honestly
new Parties will arise spontaneously and ineyita-
bly,. Until then, we must be content TO leave
matters as they are, satisfied that they cannot be
betered, and may he made infinitely worse. bv
the interested and oliicous attempts of our patent
platiorm-mongers and professional builders of
Parties, to get up new organizations, for no other
motive than their own private and personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. The present division of Par
ties is certainly greatly to be regretted.
Leaving out of view the 'little Party of
Six, to whom we have already alluded, Parties
are too sectional-oo geographical in their char
acter. They run too closely into North and
South, and tend too much to widen the breach.
already unhappiy existing, between the two sec
tions of the UNION. Yet this very identity of
Party distinctions with geographical lines, is in
ITSELF conclusive proof of the entire absence of any
of those great and commanding issues of Principle,
not interest, without which it is in vain to look