Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-06-04
PARTY CHANGES.

History were party lines so loosely draw
and SO easily oblI.rrated. Only Il few
years ago the individual who COOL,
transferred his allegiance fr IN one pa.
" to another, was regarded with c"u
tempt, Il, An unprinciplrd renegade
Now the Wing Of yesterday is the d. IN
urrat of to-day. Gentlemen who ere
while were furious in their advocacy o
A'nrr'canlsm, f,e converted into rabl'
opponents. Opinions are shifted will
almost a much Indifference as if they
were old Shoes. Meanwhile the public
look uron these perpetual and sudde'
tranSn'' griticatlons with impertu'pabIe
serenity, aud seem TO consider that every
man has a right to change his ppIitics as
he does his garments, and that the mu'
tation in the one case concerns them nc
moe than in the other.
Two differences are delucib|e from this
anomalous state OF popular sentimen:
Either political morality is at an alarm
lngly low rate Of discount, or party
c'eeds are 50 Iif.less and destitute Of dis
t%inct've character as t" he all equally
worthless. There is something of truli,
III both conclusions; in fact they are coz,
relative and mutually dependent. 1t is
obvious that If men dIscerped ANYTHING
really tangible and precious in the pc j.
tics Of tl'o day, ;ley would attach them
selves to it with far more courage a, d
tenaclty. But when they perceive, AS
they must, that parties have d+generated
from the r~~presenlativ Of high and
sacred principles to nvre aggreg tons
Of individuals linked toy-ihrr by an ig-
noble lust Of emolument and place. il
becomes a matter of verv slight moment
indeed whether n or another party is
preferred. Conscience has as little as
possible TO do il the decision. Tie ten
dency will necessarily be to attract men
to that party which forluitous c,rcum-
stances, ora be. ter organization, or a
more ample command of means, has for
the nonce rendered the strongest. Tie.
masses gravitate to tue side which, promi.
ses an easy victory, when no Ioftier and
purer considerations operate to deter
them from regeneration. Take for ex-
ample the position Of parties III the South
The Democracy SO called are almost
without an opposition III the cot on and
su2ar-yrowing States. And Why? MOI
because Democratic doctrines a'e partic-
"'arly re|'sI'ed by The people,: still less
because men WHO profess them have an
Irresistible claim to pablo confidence on
the score Of superior wisdom and appro-
we'd integrity. On the contrary, il is
universally conceded that never was the
party less worthy Of esteem
never was it more corrupt and d.
PRAYED that never has it been more
justly amenabIe to the censure of the
nation; nev has it faIsified its pledges
more reckIesS]y never has it forfeited
much Of its ancient prestige. YET
bad as 1t is IN every respect, Tiers is no
choice left to the Southern people,
They cannot affiliate with Northern
Black Republicans, and must prrfo,ce
unite faculty orovertIy with party winch
hey dislike only less than they do the
enemies of the South.
Again. the perverted state Of political
enables men TO SHUTTLE off old
opinions and don new ones without the
slightest compunctious visitings. The
fraction # politicians who yet cling to
%1n''quated traditions, and regard with
mingled horror and alnazement these
syrations and transformations, are Deem
I'd inveterate old fogies, with nearly OBJ
>oIete notions Of recl;tude and fidelity
to principle. The truth is, we can scarce
Y condemn those who now-a-days find
he operatIonsof jumping Jim Crow so
convenient and easy. There is so little
difference among parties-they1
have all SO small an infusion Of genuine
principle within them-the aims of all
Of them are so exclusively directed 10 the
OF the material spoils Of vic
lory, that n possesses no sub
merit 1 An another, and either
may be adopted without any serious
sacrifice. Of cherished opinions. Thus
find ancient Wigs who have grown
grey in conservatism sidentif,ing them
with progressive Democrats and
Know Nothings, who a short time since
breathed hatred and contempt Of for
now cheek by jowl with The
most verda"t sprigs of H'bernia, and
lie sturdiest scions Of FatilerIand. IL
We sometimes despair whether, amidst
he sect on>]ism Of North and South.
and thee. all-pervading Corruption which
las DEGRADED politics almost Il, the Laval