Daily national Democrat., 1859-04-28
Miserable Partisanship.

is based upon no broad national principle
but rather upon mere sectional views and in
terests. As long as a party is established
upon certain great leading principles, founded
in justice and patriotism. there can scarcel,
be too much zeal and enthusiasm in the ad
vocacy and maintenance of those principles
But, when party is founded upon sectiona
bigotry and prejudice and devoted to tn
setting up of one portion of the country an'
the putting down ofanother, in the respect o
political power, the more zeal in the advOca
cy of such party of course the more dan
ger to the Union. This is a self-evident prop
position and requires only to be stated, not
argued. Where a party is established OF
principles, well fixed and determined, and
remains true to those principles, there is nc
danger from an over-regard for the interests
of that party on the part of the people, be
cause such regard for the party is nothing
more than 4 regard for principle.
The evils of partisanship that kind of par
tisanship against which the great Washing
ton warned his countrymen-are traceable
to that blind devotion to mere names and
leaders instead of to principles, which is too
frequently exhibited in free governments.
! This devotion is characteristic of the ignorant
and unthinking, whom it is the duty of the
intelligent to enlighten. Led away by mere
names and party cries, they too frequently
rush on headlong, without inquiring whittier
they are tending. Did they know the course
in which they were steering, they would
pause at once in their mad career and save
themselves the misery of having contributed
to the dangers which beset the stability OF
republican institutions
Now, to make an appreciable application
of these remarks, we would call attention to
the grand distinction between the Democratic
and Lecompton parties. The former is a
party of principle, and remains true to its
principles, no matter what the results, be-
cause it believes that those principles are
correct. The latter is mere party of ex-
pedency, following one thing to day and
another tomorrow. When it thinks that
popular sovereignty is favorable to slavery,
it is for popular sovereignty ;.when it thinks
the contrary, it is against it. 1t is opposed
to Congressional Intervention to-day and in
favor of it to morrow. 1t is everything for
expediency and nothing for principle. 1t ad
heres to party organization right or wrong,
ard never enquiries achat as the platform of
the party but what is the interest of our sec
tion of the country. A party like this may
well be expected to outrage all justice and rea-
son and to ignore morality altogether in its
MachaivelEan system of policy. Everything
is right in politics is its creed and motto.
Everything is right that will secure the end
we have in view" "Stick to the party or.
ganization, if you trampe upon every prin-
ciple of right and honor"
The adherents of this party, therefore,
simply ask what the leaders have decided to
do and forthwith subscribe to it, They are
commanded to violate the sacred pledges con-
tained in the Cincinnati Platform. They do
So at once, and without a question They
are required to trample under foot all the
old, time-honored principles of the Demoe.
racy. They do so, without moments hesi-
tation. Party spirit like this is indeed to be
dreaded
Do we mistake in ascribing such blind de-
votiOn to the beck of party leaders to this
Lecompton organization? Look at the re
cord Let that be the answer. Members of
Congress, sworn upon the Holy Evangeists
to do their duty to their country in honesty
and sincerity. and pledged to certain course
of policy, have violated that duty and chang
ed that policy, in the twinkling of an eye,
at the bidding of the Lecompton organiza-
ton Lecompton Committees, appointed to
investigate fraud and rascality in the high
places of the government, have not scrupled,
in the face of evidence that fastened con
viction upon every impartial mind, to bring
In rer orts into either House of Congress
shielding the delinqnents from public repro
baton because they belonged to the party
in power. Coming down TO our own State
Legislature, look at its actions during the
last session. See the shameless audacitv
with which it carried through its outrageous
and high handed measures. See how it VIC.
lated principles as ancient as free govern
ment itself" by excluding from the floor of
that body men who had been duly and legal
ly elected to represent the sovereign people.
See how it trampled upon all parliamentary
rules and usages in its treatment of minori-
tics showing that it was determined to be
governed not by principle but by mere par
tisan expediency. Let any responsible mar
deny these allegations in general and he can
be answered with the specifications and the
proof 1t is on record.
Now, who would be identified with such
a party-a party with principles as change
able as the chameleons skin-advocating
one thing to-day and another thing to-n.or
row, and acknowledging no rule of action
but hollow hearted expediency and present
temporary policy2 Such party would lead
the country to destruction at telegraphic
speed
| WE draw the attention of our readers to
the advertisement of Mr.. Thomas Ogg Shaw
IN another column. Mr. Shaw has establish.
! aH a,G q.