Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-06-07
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ITS POLICY.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ITS POLICY.
We notice in various quarters considerable
solicitude in regard to the policy OF the he
publican party in the approaching presidential
campaign. On one had, there are divers Or
acular statements of what the party must do
to succeed. 1t has "no higher aim" we are
told, than to unite the conflicting elements
of opposition and route the party now in
power; that is to say, no higher aim than to
elect somebody president who will give the
federal offices to the Opposition" On the 9TH
er hand, it is declared with great vehemence
that. if we do what the soldiers of fortune sug-
gest the party will be no longer fit to succeed,
either in 1860, or at any other time. And there
is likely to be quite as much ofthis discussion
as the occasion requires, until our candidate
for the Presidency is nominated.
IT is evident that some who aspire to be lead
ers in the Republican party seriously misap-
prehend its character and temper. There is
in it more earnest conviction, more resolute
purpose, and more individual comprehension
and judgment of political intrigue, than they,
as politicians, have been accustomed to deal
with. In this case, it will not be safe for them
to roaoon from any previous partizan expert
ences. If there be among us any mere SOL
diers of fortune, we counsel them TO beware
of assuming that their own readiness to put
aside principle, corresponds TO anything to be
found in the Republican party as a possible
characteristic of its policy. If such men could
be allowed to arrange the programme of the
party and dictate its policy, it would be beaten,
routed, overwhelmed, and exterminated, so ig-
ANONYMOUSLY, that the event would become
historical.
A very large proportion of the Republican
party consists of men whose devotion to their
principles is more like an earnest religion than
like anything customary in politics. Their
view of the changes demanded in the admins
tration of the government, goes far beyond
what has been declared in the Republican plat
form, embracing many things which do not
come within the purpose of the party, and for
which they do not wish to make it responsi,
Bile. They are willing to make concessions for
special purpose but, while they have grown
wise enough to understand how the success of
principle is to be realized, they have not
grown false enough to sustain the party when
it abandons principle.
There are men, and there may be parties,
who will not undertake the work of to-day,
because they cannot accomplish along with it
all the work of the century They exist in a
fever OF ideal aspiration which at length be-
comes chronic and spoils them for all practical
uses in behalf of noble aims. If they cannot
open some magical way to instant and abso-
lutte perfection, they will do nothing and COM
mend nothing, but spend their days in criticiz-
ing all who behave more wisely, and in por-
traying the worlds astonishing ripeness for
perdition. They are little more than wander
ing voices, now scolding, now lamenting, now
wailing, but never made serene and influential
by the inspiration of wisdom In the Judge
ment of such persons it is a great sin, some
thing like making covenant with help to
accept any method of carrying out great
principle which does the work gradually
and takes exact account of the conditions and
requirements ofhuman nature. Men ofthis class
are as far from being admirable as they are
from resemblance to earnest Republicans.
Such men do not join the Republican party.
No, they prefer to affect the air and manner of
gloriied high priests, while they mournful-
ly callt the worlds attention to "the atrocious
pro-slavery views" of such men as Senator
Sumner. And yet this chronic rage of imagin-
alive idealism is not dangerous. 1t is usual
ly very eloquent, and we think it has an i'm
portant mission. Still, it is disease to which
most men are not liable. The general tenden-
cy is more to the otheg extreme more to that
villainous Common sense in politics" which
seems incapable of conscience. Honest Re-
publicans are as far removed from the wrong
headed yehemence of the. one as they are from
the treacherous zeal of the other. They are
ready for the work of the present time.
But, if any man presumes that the Republi-
can party can be induced to fling away its
platform, disowu its principles, and become a
mere gaug of filibustering Free Companions,
In order to unite with slavery propagandists and
Succeed" that man is likely to learn a
useful lesson. We do not covet that kind
of success. 1t is something to be depreca-
ted with fervor, as we pray to be deliv-
cred from lightning, pestilence, madness, and
murder. We shall secure a genuine triumph
when we make our principles triumphant, and
not before. We shall succeed when we de.
serve success, through the power of such de
sert. To abandon principle and become po
litical adyenturers,-to beat the Democratic
party, merely to give some men places
in the Cabinet, and others, nice berths
in custom houses, or coveted clerkships al
Washington, = this would be disgace, in
stead OF honor; and it would be the most
disastrous calamity that can befal the Repub
ican cause.
REPUBLIcANIsM IN OnIo.-The nomina-