Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-11-12
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.


Ola men can recollect what agitations and
commissions attended the downfall and death OF
the old federal party. The leaders of that
marty had controlled affairs during the revolu
ton. They had been foremost in the work Of
framing the federal constitution and organic
ing the government. They had been supreme
in our politics up to the time when Jefferson
was elected to the presidency. By this defeat,
and by their suicidal madness under it, their
party was brought to disgrace and destruction
Their habit of ruling made it well nigh lmpoS-
sible for them to submit, and there was among
them an indescribable rage against MI JeHeI-
son and his supporters. In many parts oil the
country, and more especially in the New Eng
land states, Mr.. jefferson was thought oil win
horror. In all those terms which political
rancor knows how to use, he was described to
the people as a political monster, who had
come home from France a revolutionary inf
del and agrarian of the bloolest sort, and who
sought to be president in order to burn all the
bibles. tear down all tue churches, and cruelty
all the preachers There were communities
where this was believed religiousy but the
politicians who had disseminated this belief
were impotent for mischief forever after the
meeting of their Hartford convention.
We have now in the country an agitation
similar to that which attended the downfall of
the federal party. The southern leaders of the
democratic party have for a long time assumed
a divine right to rule the republic No other
party in their view, has a right to be in pow
er. and they are not i'll mood to tolerate any
other party which has in it the elements of
in power, they have agitated tho slavery ques-
ton at home and at Washington. They have
used the institution of slavery and the ma
ehinery OF terror to preserve their ascendancy
in the southern states They have raised an
outcry againat the anti-slavery sentiment, de.
rounced it as an outlaw, and preached cru
sades against it. They have most atrociously
misrepresented and libeled the aims of the
republican party. And they have done all
this to keep themselves in power and prevent
the successful organization of any political
party which would endanger their supremacy.
But the days Of their rule over the republic
are numbered. There is great political revo-
luton in the country, which proceeds from
great principles, and will be permanent. They
understand it much better than they have all
lowed many Of the southern people to under
stand it, But it brings downfall of their po-
litical power, aud they trouble the country
i,.I,
moved the old t,deralists some sixty years
ago.
The old ttdealists were really higher men
than these southern eXtI.msts, and there was
more intelligence and respect for law and or
der in the communities which they influenced.
Not even in the Hartford convection was there
any loud talk OF disunion; and there never
was a time when such disunion demonstra
tons would have been tolerated in New En-.
gland as we now hear of in some parts OF the
South but the terrible prejudice against the
supporters of jefferson lasted a long time, and
there may be few circles where something
more than the memory Of it fingers STILL
something bequeathed from that uncompro-
missing spirit of the lordly old federalis, who
held that Jefiersonian democrats were not pre-
sentable in good society The southern rulers
of the broken democratic party have never
failed to be lordly, and there is mixed up with
the passions which they have excited against
the republican party, all the barbarons
influence Of the slave system. Besides,
they are the most demonstrative people
in the country. They make a terrible noise
just now, and take pains to have it all tele
graphed to the northern press, with some
exrayagant exaggerations 1t will not sur
prise US if they do something they will regret
and be ashamed Of; but they will not destroy
the Union, which is quite as useful to their
section as to any other, and in which, as they
know very well, there is no purpose to do
them any harm. They may have DISPOSE
ton to rule or ruin, but the sober second
thought will hardly allow them to work a ruin
which will fall chiefly on themselves.
There are in the South, and especially in
South Carolina, few men who are really dis
unionists, impractical men who dream of a
Southern eontederacy." Their influence is
not large, but they are doiag what they can to
make the most OF the present opportunity.
They feed the excitement and seek to hurry
on matters to a conclusion, before the sure re
action Of public feeling shall make them power
less. They must play out their play to
the end 1t does not begin like trag.
edy There is too much noisy ostenta.
uon' too much exaggerated teIegraphing, to
the northern newspapers too much manufac.
tured excitement. But whether tragedy or
farce, it must 90 on to the end This treason
able madness is unprovoked, unreasonable
wanton. Nothing has been done to give it
even the poorest show of excuse Therefore,
we feel sure that it will be as impotent as it
is foolish.
AErH Irrt, II