Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-03-03
PRINCIPLES AND MEN.

PRINCIPLES AND NEN
The recently enunciatod apothegm that "suc
cess is duty" is receiving practical illustra-
ton in the opinions entertained and expressed
by leading republican organs and men in refer
ence to the presidential canvass so close upon
us. The names of prominent men in :he party
in nearly every State where republican votes
are given, have been mentioned in connection
with the Presidency, at the same time general
willingness to subordinate private friendships
and personal preferences to the general good of
the organization, has been manifested. This
condition of things is eminently favorable to an
acceptable issue and ultimate success.
There are, however, occasional indications
that present less favorable aspect. The opin
ion has been advanced that the nomination of
any man by the republican party, who was not
republican in 1856, would be detrimental to
the best interests of that party, and would haz-
ard its success On the other hand there seems
to be disposition in certain quarters to ignore
those who have been identified and recognised
as the representative men of the party, and to
take up man who has never belonged to the
organization, in order, as it is affirmed, that the
Fillmore men of 1856, the conservative wings,
and the no-party men, may be induced to sup
port the candidate opposed to the democracy.
We confess our want of sympathy with both of
these extremes. We cannot accept the strict
construction sentiments of the former, nor can
we look favoraby upon the latitudnarian views
IF ha lottp atalx tba ,hor IF
who would make the party close corporation
is SO limited that no real danger is to be feared
from their operations. We apprehend that
they will be found more liberal in action than
they seem tolerant in opinion. The greatest
difficulty the republican party will find in Sc
Letting candidate will, we conceive, arise from
this disposition to give the party cast and
complexion to meet the exigency of the nomi-
nation of man either outside its existing ranks
or one without any political status. Such a re-
suit would be infinitely worse than the severest
defeat.
"Success is duty" when II can be achieved by
legitimate means and without the sacrifice of
principle; but success based upon the abne-
CATION of principle and upon the idea that the
end justiies the means, is disaster that can
not be corrected or redressed. 1t is duty to
defeat the pro-slavery democratic party says an
enthusiastic politician. Granted but it is
equally duty to do it only in such manner
that better administration, one more useful to
the country shall take its place in authority and
responsibility The republican party is not
II al
certain tenets of political faith which are regard
ed as fixed principles. To sacrifice these prin-
ciples for any object whatever would be to de-
stroy the organization utterly and to nominate
and elect man to the Presidency who does
not recognise those principles as the rule and
guide of his political conduct, would not on
ly demoralize the party, but would be produc-
tive of no positive good to the country
1t would merely substitute a new faction for the
one now in power. The past history of the
country sustains this position The admins
trations of John Tyler and Willard Fillmore
drove the ablest political party of the day COM
pletely out of existence.
The great majority of those who oppose the
democratic party in the northern states are re-
publicans. 1t is to these men mainly that we
are to look for support and for votes in the cleo
ton, and it is upon these men that we must re-
ly, in the event of success, to carry out repub-
lican principles. Therefore, while we have no
preferences as to location, no personal preiu-
dices that shall in any manner interfere with the
good of the party, we do believe that the NOM
ination by the republican party should be given
to republican, one who if elected will carry
out so far as it is in his power the distinctive
principles of the party. Furthermore; it is
our belief that it would be better for the party
and better for the country that the democrats
should succeed in the contest, than that any
man should be elected by republican votes who
will not steadfastly cling to those principles
which have made republicanism power in the
land. A union upon such basis would not
constitute party; it would only be coalition
and coalitions have always proved the most ir-
responsible and corrupt combinations that ever
defiled legislative body or cursed country.
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TONCDEccTON,