Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-09-21
The Opposttion.

In ali nations, however governed we find more
or less aniagOnisn Of interests arising from the
varied circumstances of the various communities
included in the body polite and whatever subordi-
nate topics Of difference there may be- and Ehstever
eliques and factions grounded upon them, we al
ways fad two great parties absorbing the rest which
may In general terms, be entitled the Government
and Opposition psrties--the one representing the
paramount force in State the other embracing all
those which, whether from principle or from inter
erst, opposed to the general policy of the pre-
dominant power. or course The topics of difference
win be different in every case,-if the governing
power Is occupied in extensive organic changes the
opposition is conservative rallies itself around an
cent institutions, and deolaims against Innovation
or If the Government is stationary in its character
disposed to lean upon the traditions of the past rath
than to shape its course by antcipstiOns of the
future, then the opposition is the advocate of
formation, and the great decrer Of inveterate abuses
All this Is true equally in the most despotic and
the most popular governments. The organic changes
which the Russian Emperor is at present introduce
ing into his vast empire are TIE object of as deter
mined and unrestinE opposition as was the Par
liamentary reforM in the English politics of 1890
%. AhC AA'cleots u inc CbAbes
constituting the Austrian empire, opposed to the
central imperial power, have created what are call
ed the provincial and imperial parties in that
pire, very similar to the State Rights and Federal
parties in the United States.
BUTT is in nations governed by system of popu-
lar representation that this antagonism has its full
play, and the Government and Opposition parties
become the moving forces by which the political
world Is kept in motion the centrifugal and
esntripeta forces keep the heavenly bodies career
ing in their orbit.
The topics in dispute will of course vary with the
history and progress of the nation; sometimes an
ancient abuse is striven to be got rid of, sometimes
new institution is proposed for adoption, and ac-
sording as the Government or the Opposition is in
favor of the change will they appropriate to them
selves the titles OF the movement or reactionary
psrty,--the reforming or conservative party, or
terms equivalent.
There Is not phenomenon more curious and in
teresting TO the political philosopher than the con-
disn Of the political elements at those epochs not
unfrequeutly recurring, when old questions and
Issues, having been disposed of either by the CON-
pIetioR Of changes demanded or by their final
abandonments, the parties ind themselves still op-
posed front to 'front.' neither disposed to lay aside its
arms, both Injured ty habit to the status 6sH
as to make reconciliation and union impossible,
and yet to leave 1t most pulling question both
parties to decide what they fighting about.
While matters are in this unsatisfactory condition.
il is astonishing With what Avidity new subject of
controversy is caught up and with what energy the
old organizations will range themselves for the con-
1ict about the new bone of contention.
Some such phase Of politics as this has recen +
~ been the condition of both the two great exam
plars Of representative government, England and
America in both, for long time the popular par
ty has been in power, snd the reacsionary party in
opposition Ia England. the old issues have been
csnceled By the completion Of the changes demand
ed in America, By the abandonment of old issues
by the latter party; such as Banks, Protec-
tion, &C.; and in both countries have experiments
been made in the originstion of new issues, with
more or less notable results. We cannot but think
that The study Of the aUslOgies presented by this
msrkable coincidence in the two nations will be
found entertaining and Instructive in the case of
England no less than that Of our own country, |
perhaps indeed more SO; for we shall be enabled |
% study the phenomena in the former case with |
political vision less distorted by political pre-
elections and snimosities than in the case of our
own country. We propose, therefore, in two papers,
60 follow in ensuing numbers of our Journal TO give
che history of of the leading political circun
stances which have lead to the peculiar existing re-
lstions Of the two parties in the two countries-the
Government and the Opposition.