The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1859-10-15
Letter from the Hon. e ward Bates.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. ID. 1850.

OF. LOUIS, sept. IL, 1899.
To Messrs. 7. N. Ew n.y. I. Cristenden Rich.
ard c. ~ ham, Atf.rd Jones, VIM. spratt,
VIM > Iii Tho mas ii Allen, and Vim. Beard,
wing Com - tee, iexinf ton, Missouri:
would be right glad to accept your
invitation, if could do 80 without a
breach of duty, but I cannot. The Fall
term Of our various courts are just at
hand, SO that professional business will
engage all my time months to come.
really wish had an opportunity to speak
to the good Wings of Lafayette, in regard
to the course which il becomes us, Wings,
to pursue, in the present mixed and crit
ical state Of political affairs. The few
who have withstood all temptations to
abandon the pure doctrines and renounce
the honored name Of our once glorious
party, may surely now be trusted; for,
protesting the truth of the Constitution
as understood AID expounded, their faith
in prosperity and adversely, through good
report and through evil. They have not
beenfrights sedb by the passionate violence
OF fierce parties, who threaten to ruin the
country if not allowed to rule it. They
have not been blinded to the true and
lasting interest Of the whole country, by
the glare Of false issues and transient
projects, gotten up in narrow sectional
spirit, and urged in fratrieidal rage !;
and they have not been seduced to desert
their old, true position Of patriotic duty,
by the temptation, industriously held out
to them, to "diyide the spoils with the
strong"
The Wing party, whether in success
or defeat, has been always respected, even
BY its adversaries. Why Because it
is naturally respectable. Conscious of its
own: honesty, in allegience, and patriotism,
it respected itself, and thus enforced the
respect of others.
While the Democratic aud Wbip mar.
ties were the only twoantagonistic powers,
and held divided sway in the nation,
there was this marked difference between
their systems Of discipline Among the
Democrats, tho thinking was done BY a
very few; all enunciations Of principle,
all programmes of action, and all special
measures Of importance. were determined
by few leaders in convention or caucus,
and every private member, from a Sena.
tor down toa simple vote, was required to
obey implicitly. Discipline was strict,
and riyidly enforced; and hence the
wonderful unanimity with which (until
very lately all the measures Of thar party
have been sustsined by its members,
however opposite to each other in prin-
ciple and policy. Among the Wings, on
the contrary, quito different system
prevailed. Their discipline, like the
party itself, was based upon the idea Of
the intelligence, as we'll as the honesty
md patriotism of their members. Dis
,iplinc was comparatively lax, and there
vas allowed TO every member large lat
tudc Of private judgment and individual
opinion upon all unessentia! doctrines
md all incidental questions. And hence
be frequent difference Of opinion among
he most eminent members of the Wing
,arty, in its best days, upon collateral
|nestions. While this is evidence Of
he intelligence and freedom Of the Wing
nrty, il may be the case Of its defeat;
or dcspotisn,, at the head Of nation or
arty, has more energy than freedom,
nd con more easily accomplish its
nds, when no one Las the right to OPP
ose or question its commands. But
ar.y success, by tyrannizing over the
ldgm. ms and consciences Of mea, is not
Ne success we desire, because it is wrong
itself, and is at once, an example and
! instrument for imposing upon our I
,untry an arbitrary government.
But tho question returns upon us,
hat ought the Wings to do in the pres
i crisis! Whist cav they do! You !