The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-07-12
the Acmiaistsstaon ard the Democratic
Party

Party
We transfer to our columns this morning an
article from The Washington ORION of Friday
last, in which that partisan organ undertakes to
answer and deny the position Of the HERALD as
to the present decentralization Of the democratic
party, North, South and West The Union sets
out by affirming what II says the HERALD al
mits-tbat the successes of the administration 80
far have been the solid triumphs OF principle
over faction, and that such victories always
inure TO the exclusive benefit of the democratic
party This is two fold proposition, part of
which is true and part fallacious We not only
admit, nut claim and have always claimed that
the success of the measures brought out hitherto
| in the statesmanlike course Of Mr.. Buchapan's
administration, has been triumph of principle
over faction. But that is asserting or admit
ting nothing in favor Of the democratic party.
We have always drawn the distinction-a dis
tinction which mere partisan organs like the
Union are incapable of drawing between great
measures Of national policy and sound states
manship and those measures that have their
origin simply in The base contemplate spirit of
party. The successes of the administration
were successes achieved in measures of the
former character, and it was because we regard
ed them in that light that we gave to them our
beartiest support
They were "triumphs Of principle over fac
ton" But on which side were the faction
lists? Clearly and undeniably on the side
of the democratic party. 1t was the &C.
ceders the demoralized and disintegrating
element of that psrty, that interposed all the
obstacles and implements to he free course of
the Presidents policy; and were it not, as we
have heretofore shown, for the aid which was
rendered by liberal minded members of the op-
position, not a solitary measure brought for
ward in the last session Of Congress, whether to
carry out the policy of the administration or to
make appropriations for the expense of govern
ment, could have been carried. They were in
deed ''trumphs of principle over faction"-over
democratic faction-but we cannot understand
the logic which iustifes the Union in saying that
"such victories always inure to the exclusive
benefit of the democratic party" Why it should
he 20, wby that should be the effect, we are at a
loss to conceive, when they were moi won by that
party.
Here it is again that the onion shows its inca
pacity to make TIE distinction between the great,
elevated, national policy Of conservative ad-
ministration and the miserable huckstering
mska'hifts of party. Because the present incum-
put forward by the democratic party, it assumes
and argues on that assumption that all the acts
of his administration must be governed by party
considerations. 1t would thus bring the Cabinet
ofMr. Buchanan, having in charge the mighty
interests of this great nation down to the level
of Tammapy Hall Council of Sschems, assem-
bed to devise means for parcc,ling out the public
plumber and for selling the public Offices to I'M
OBSERVERS. What sort of q position is this to be
taken by The reputed organ Of the administra-
ton Is this the sort of service it renders to its
patrons? Better Tor 1t to confine itself eyclu-
sively to the publication Of advertisements for
mail lettings, in which none but few mail con-
tractors can discover any meaning or feel any
interest, than thus injure by its unwise advo-
cacy the cause to which it Is absurdly supposed
to render service.
The Union, in the article to which we allude,
goes on to speak of two or three troublesome
questions which the administration inherited,
and which had been thrust upon the party by
fierce demsgogues, and says that the HERALD
will agree with it that in meeting and over
coming these difficulties the President achieved
a signal triumph. Most undoubtedly he did.
That is what we have all along asserted. The
President achieved signal triumph In the Lee
compton matter, but the democratic party did
not The contest saw the democratic party,
North and South, rent into fragments, one sec.
ton opposing the measure at one time for one
insignifc can't cause. and another section op-
posing 1t at another time for another and an
equally insignificant cause. But calmly and
imperturbably the President looked down
upon these squabblings of the factions. He felt
that he bad acted upon great and immutable
principle and that however his course might be
assailed from the one side or from the other, its
correctness would be eventually recognized by
Congress and the nation. The high statesman
like stand which be took cowed and deferred
the renegades, and shamed them back into
their proper orbit and he had the
satisfaction of seeing the whole army
of niger worshippers in Congress, headed
by the venerable Giddings, come forward, aud,
by voting for the Crittenden-M Montgomery
amendment, abjure all their former errors on
the subject Of slavery, and perform solemn
auto ddJt That was, indeed, a triumph of prin-
ciple over faction-but, we again repeat 1t was
not triumph Of the democratic party. 1t was
triumph Of national administration.
The Union, however, does not see II in that
light II has no comprehension Of, or apprecia-
ton for anything but party and 80 IL claims
that this and other events Of the last session
have strengthened the democratic party-else
they would not be victories but practical de-
feats. And yet, with o looseness of logic that
is refrosbin CIV ,o;r. "A wand. bv dooa adr,;t