The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-05-25

ult. entitled Have we democratic parry
amongst us?' has created some iuttering IN
the orthodox Journals and probably inspired
considerable glee in the organs OF the OPPOSE
tion The conductors Of the States are Messrs.
PRYOR and Heiss, undoubtedly two OF the most
thorough going democrats in the land. we
might add that the very intensity and sincerity
of their political opinions induce them TO pro
pound the dubious query as to the existence Oh
democratic party. The unret1ecung reader
will perhaps be startled at learning that me
conclusion Of the States is ''that there IS no"
no democratic party in existence. we pre-
sumo the oracle OF democracy has right 20
proclaim the fact, and that we shall not De
charged with undue boldness by our modest
endorsement Of the authoritative affirmation,
A year ago we undertook TO express certain
difident doubts respecting what is now SO hon
estly and intrepidly announced; but our views
were ascribed to anti democracy preludIces.
We are Glad to find that those who cannot be
justly charged with political anrpathles to the
dominant party unhesitatngiy aNo" the same
belief
The grounds upon which the Washington
States bases its opinion are undenlaoie. nat
journal maintains that to realize the idea OF
party there must be primarily common toun-
daGon, then due subordinatlon and Illness
among the parts, and finally complete unlly
Of organization. Applying this test to dtmoc'
racy, the writer discovers that ii is woiuIiy de-
icient "Of individual democrats, says the
States, dispersed over the country, each WIN
his peculiar profession of faith and object OF
pursuit, there is unquestionabIy very album
dant supply. But they no more constitute
party in he philosophical and practical sense
If the word than heap OF unhewn and IN
adjusted stones constitutes palace" Let US
see whether this discrepancy and confusion
really exist
First there is squatter sovereignty. Here
the party is all at sea. Mr.. Buchanan holds
one view, Mr. Cass another. The south and
the west are diametrcally opposed in their con
structon of the doctrine. Then there IS the
Pacific railroad recommended by the president,
rppudiated by his secretary OF war, and re-
Gently killed by the democracy of the U. ).
senate Then there is the question OF internal
improvements, on which southern and western
democracy are hopeIessly divorced, congress
usually passing bills for such purposes by dem
ocratic votes, against the earnest protests OF
southern members. Next we have that terri
executive has enc theory and the secretary OF
the treasury another; the democracy of the
north cIamorous for protection, the denizens OF
the south funou>ly hostile TO it. Finally there
is that the teterrima causa beIli-savery
touching which there is Just about as much OF
concord and unanjmily amongst the democracy
as might be expected to exist in a pack OF
famished hounds if single bone were thrown
in their midst. Mark, reader! Though these
are our words, they are the thoughts Of
straight-laced democratic sheet; of one we be-
licve quite as able and far more honest than
most Of the stipendiafy government sheets.
We cite passage or two from this stricking
article:
1--WE need not recapitulate all the points OF
divergent doctrine among the democracy. Ii
is sufficient to say that upon no single issue is
there adequate agreement for common basis
Of action.
In the matter of organization we discover
an equal absence Of concord and unity in tie
parry" We have Lecompton and an anti
Lecompton faction; there are followers Of Doug
las and here the adherents of Buchanan; in
short, as many as are the asprants for the
presidency, many are the cliqaes and cabals
among the democracy.
''fvretofore the administration has afforded
rallying point for the individuals of the party
but, instead, it is become original occasion
of dispute and dIssension. IntheSe latter days
the recommendation of a democratic executive
implies little more authority with a democratic
representative than with member of the OPP
position.
I'm one particular the democracy are thought
H.,
current in action, and that is in the pursuit Of
the spoiIs But even in this most important
matter they exhibi! the same diversity of in
terest and policy observable in every other re-
gard The course of the present democratic
executive has been signalized by the indiScrim-
nate oStracism of the surviving ofice-holders
OF its democratic predecessor. And in respect
of future promotion, the rival factions in the
party" are more intent each on the defeat of
lis rival, than on the overthrow of the common
enemy. Unless these domestic dissensions be
harmonized by the prevalence of more frater
nal counsels or suppressed by the pressure of
an overshadowing peril, we are not warranted
in anticipating the cordial cooperation Of the
various factions among the party in the strug
gle of 1860. Even the potent spell of the
spoils will not now avail to Subdue the demon
Of discord among the democracy.
1T is no absurd speculation, therefore, to in
guire whether there BE- democratic party
among us? In fact, on elaborate investigation
we are constrained to return negative response
to the question. There is no such entity as
democratic party. Greater confusion of tongues
and opposition of interests did not prevail
among the children of men after their ambi-
tious but abortTve attempt in the plain of ,Shi-
nah, than are now visible in the broken ranks
and mutual animosties of the once harmonious
and triumphant democracy"
We hardly deem it necessary to add any
reflections Of our own to this mournful ac-
but we would suggest to the
able and fearless paper which has not scrupled
openly to declare the lruth-how painful soever
The acknowIedgmenl-that if it will next insli,
tute an inquiry into the causes of this political
diSlocation and dismemberment, it may arrive
at certain conclusions that will teach wisdom
for the future. 1.-THE party has lost its homo
gently is not itself to blame? Has it not tam
pered with principle, and compromised with
duty for the ignoble object Of securing the
spoils Of the government? We ask for infor-
nation. N. O. Bee.