The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-23
LIE oaARAeTER oF rARrIEs.

federal Union. The success Of the republicans is
the triumph Of sectionaism and faction over the con
siitutien. Their creed is inconsistent with the en-
forcement of the constitutional rights of the States
composing tile Onion. They seek to deaoe and
obliterate the very seal of the covenant They have
scattered broadcast the seeds of dissension, and have
sought by every means in their power to produce
estrangement and rreconcileable antagonism be-
tween the parties to the federal compact They are
subtle disnnionists. They hate and despise their
brethren, and employ every power and faculty of
the human mind 10 widen aud deepen the gulf of
%fanaticism and folly which they have created be-
tween the North and the South. They are political
~agitators and mischief-makers They are apparent
ly ready to sacrifice their own interests and the hon
or of the government to effect their mhallowed and
disorganizing purposes. They are not democrats,
of course because democracy signifies honesty, sim
certify, and friendship between man and man. The
love of the neighbor is the very cornerstone of its
existence. It is that order of political government
in which the religious principle of fraternity is fore
most in authority and power. 1t is the cordial CO.
operation ofmen in the work of executing justice
amongst themselves. There is, then, no democracy
in the republican ranks. They are trimmers and
gamblers in politics. They foment and keep alive
through the passions all sorts of strife and quarrels.
They rely upon prejudice for support at the expense
of reason, justice, and fair dealing. They seek to
embroil their n~eighbors in bootless controversy, to
set neighborhood against neighborhood, section
against section, and at all points to sever the bonds
of civil society. .
If the democracy cannot prevail against such a
party it is because its organization is demoralized,
its integrity questionable, its honor doubtful, and it's
character bad. There is no sense in deceiving our
selves with false promises and hopes, in overrating
our strength and over-estimating the force of demo-
cratic authority. We are entitled to nothing by
prescription. We take nothing by inheritance.
That our ancestors did their duty is no merit in us.
The democracy must command The confidence and
support of the country by the good conduct Of their
present representatives. They are to be judged by
their works. They are not entitled to success even
by a comparison with the wickedness and dangerous
character of the republicans. "By their fruits we
shall know them" How is it, then, that the demo-
cratic party stands trembling before this Felix Of
sectionalism? How is it, if We are right, patriotic,
and national, that our ascendoncy is questioned by
an organization which is equally without merit or
political fairness? Has q cold sclishness, a wicked
pursuit of individual ends, a disregard of the nation.
al welfare, taken the place of that earnest patriotism
| and devotion to country which distinguished the
earlier days of the democratic party 1t is said that
the despotism of the old organization was inconsist-
ont with the freedom and independence of the peo-
pie that the country was, in fact, governed by
party. To a great extent this is true and if we are
to Judge the tree by its fruits, it were we'll if we had
more of such d~espotism at the present time.
We are amongst those who believe that in a dem
ocratic government the primary action of the people
is of the highest Importance to the public welfare.
It is there that the machine is put in motion. It is
there that the merits and character of individuals
seeking to represent tho people are canvassed and
| Judged. 1t is there that the vital breath of life is
impaired to the system. In this view, party organi-
zation and fidelity becomes an essential element in
the government. The latter cannot be successful
| when the former is treacherous and mfaithful. 1t
is a remarkable fact i'll the history of the federal
4 Union that the public interests have been best cared
for and promoted when under the guidance and con-
tfol of a rigid party organization; and that demorali-
zation and weakness have uniformly attended the
efforts of ambitious men who have sought to de-
grade and paralyze such organization. There is no
surer guarantee against the Vaccinations of dema-
1 gogues and the designs Of selfish ambition than the
strict maintenance of the rules of party. 1t is, in
fact, in primary meetings and conventions where
the voice of the people is most surely heard and it
is there that the principles of government should
be settled and enforced. One step beyond that
point, and the representative becomes a master
and director of his people, and has the power,
if he is u~nfaithful to them, to sow the seeds
of permanent weakness ia the organization which
has conferred upon him his political identity.
Hence we maintain that it is the duty of the
people to watch with jealous eye and vigi-
liant mind the conduct of their representatives
and to hold them to the sIrictest accountable.
ity for their stewardship. Charity exercised to-
wards a recusant and unfaithful agent is a crime
committed against the wel-being of the party and
the integrity of the government. We have had
enough of great men. We want true men. We
have had enough Of individual power we want
power lodged with the people, where it belongs,
and by whom alone it should be exercised. Great
men have greatpersonal objects to accomplish. They
treat a measure as it may happen to bear upon their
own interest and upon the fortunes of rivals. One
goes east when he sees another going west. Am
bilious combinations are the curse of the democratic