Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-10-08
1860.
Already the different parties and sections of parties

are rayng their strength in anticipation OF the contest
of 1860. Although fully two years OIL 1t is apparent
that that coming event casts its shadow two years be-
FORE and that measures issues policies expressions and
lodges are shaped or framed with reference to the next
Presidency.
There is no use in attempting to conceal the fact that
difficulties exist in the way of the Democratic party
that there are obstacles to be to be
reconcied This seems to be- unfortunately, one of the
conditions of an extended organization, including among
its members of all sorts of dispositions and temper
aments acuated by all sorts of motives moved by all
manner of considerations.
Now that there should be men in the ranks Of the
Democratic party whose devotion to that party and its
principles may be sincere enough far goes, but
whose devotion to their own advancement is still more
sincere is too probabe-n fact We all know it to be So
These people work smoothly and chcctuy enough I'M
til some occasion arises upon which they led to think
either that their claims have not received adequate con-
sderation; that by ralying faction OF their own,
they may succeed in controlling the Democratic organi
zaton or failing in that that they may hold the balance
of power, and by unitingfsing-w the opposition,
they be enabled at to grasp the spells OF power for
themselves and their allies while they strike blow
at their former friends
This is an old story 1t always has been SO, and we
rather think always will be So spite of the warning
which the political history of the country ought to a
ford to this class Of politicians The wrecks which they
have left ought to deter others from approaching too
near to the rocks upon which they have split.
OF course there will be honest differences OF opinion
and of these every party acuatcd by proper motives
and governed by good sense will be tolerant in all cases
wherein such differences do not affect any essential cc
ment of party principle or policy. Such honest differ
ences as these never result i'll rremediabe division 1t
is only where principle is involved where difference
is made for the purpose of division and to subSerVc the
ends of personal ambition personal Spite that any
serious difficulty is to be unprecedented.
The peculiar position of Mr.. Douglas is to be regret
ted-there is no denying that. He is strong mana
man of ability, power, popuarity-has deep hold upon
the people of the Northwest and snOt without many ar
dent and influential friends at the South Still, willing as
we are to overlook all that be Notwithstanding
as we are to part from one who has borne himself so
nobly in many past contest reluctant have been
to oin in any hasty or bitter denuncatons of his policy
upon matter which can hardly be any longer regarded
as forming vital issue, his recent alterations upon
question of principe-hc evidently factious and
geu feelings displayed by j. W. FOney and others Of
his prominent parzians in Pennsylvania and elsewhere
compel to regard the movement of which he is the
head as antagonistic to the purity of Democratic prnc
pe-destructive of Democratic organization,-
ed if not designed to eopardize Democratic success
That such will be the immediate effect in Pennsylva-
nia at the election to be held there the 18th, feel
sort of doubt but on the other hand, we feel as lit
tie doubt of the reaction which will be certain to fol-
low before the great contest of 1860 and the force Of
that reaction will be in exact proportion TO the
rmness with which the Democracy adhere to their prn
cipes in the hour of temporary defeat The Democracy
has seen many darker hour than this, and has come
forth into the broad light victory. All the difficulties
in its path nothing compared with those surround
ing the opposition composed it must be- of the most
discordant elements.
The course of Mr.. Douglas, well the turn affairs
have taken in other respects to point to the secc
ton of Southern as the candidate of the Demo
cratic party at the next presidential election We trust
that the deliberations of the Charleston Convention
may so cventuate. The Democrats of the South have
time and again stood up manfuny to Northern candi
dates; let us see now how the North will stand up tC
Southern man.
The precise form the opposition may assume is moIC
than we say. Whatever the form may be, the sub
stance will certainly be Northern and antislavery. W.
satisfied that the Democracy should be neither North
ern nor Southern but constitutional
Ba~Ihe news from California comes like wet ban
ket upon the boilers. Bully Broderick, McKibben
and their crowd pretty chcctually crushed out -
ground to powdcr-nowhere i'll fact. Poor old FoOtt
comes home from being Know Nothing in California
to ventlate his true Democracy by abusing Mr.. Blu
chanan. He foretcls great things in California, anC
great things do happen but not the way the traitors
meant, by considerable, if not Poor fellows, we
feel for them but we know it serves them right and i
may do them good, all but old Foote and he's past re
demption.
The Me- l, Myself" tone of some politicians of thu
class to which we aude, is more than little amusing
They have idea that they can do what no man evc
yet could do, successfully, and that to array hlmse
against great party great principle, or great meas
ure founded upon principle Why when Mr.. Benton
himself whose services had been those of Statesman
and of great genius, whose party and persona
standing was high and undisputcd, permitted the Me
l. Myself" feeling the vanity of egotism and the
folly of personal spite to control him. he fell with
out power or inuence-not forgotten, to be sure for h
talents and the real power of his character forbade that
but excluded from the Senate of which he the Mes
tor pudiated by the State he had represented for thr
tyyears, with little position in the Democratic
party of which he had been of the most trusted.
And yet Mr.. Forney and Mr. Foote and Mr. Brod
erick, and such like think that their little cOckbOats
ride out the storm that wrecked the stately rstra
of the great Missourian. There was temper, egotsm
anything you please with Benton but he was no trick
ster no oficchunter. His alterations were free from
4lo44 oSr TboY 1ofl.