The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-08-16


the following pertinent extract from sn
address of Geo. A. Coffee, Esq, before
the Alumni of Dickinson College-agree-
ing with him in the main, but not entirely:
g But there is also a deSpotism of the Party.
Every American is politician. Our poiitl-
cal system, operating by universal suffrage,
pre-supposes that every citizen takes interest
in public affairs. And so every citizen should
There are, especially in our ritles. some who
are too ignorant, timid, or surercillous to en-
tertain political opinion or take party side.
Such as these, of their own accord, dlsiran-
chise themselves, abdicate selt-government,
and prove their fitness 10 be Russian serfs and
French spies. But there are exceptions to
the general fact that each OF US, from his boy
hood, is baptized into some partisan faith
Indeed. parties are the natural results and
offspring of differing political seutiu ents-
They are inevitable, and necessary to all pop
ular governments and to oeplore their eXls-
tence is sheer nonsense. American Politics
is nothing bat an incessant struggle, IN ever
VARYING forms phrases and fortunes for and
against the present application of our organic
principle of liberty to subjects as they arise
3
d;dates, there are oniy t,ro real parties-the Con-
se3eatices and RadicaiS those who appeal TO
the LIVING RULE, snd those who apologize for
the DECAYlNG EXCEPTION. One viii have no
light to guide him but precedents he never
awuReS till after sunrise, and sees no glory in
the sun till it sets Another Lderstands that
it is always morning somewhere, and the wa
ters, the airs, and the stars are forever NOV
ing forward. The Party is, therefore, to each
one, tho symbol of his loftiest Fatrotic idea,
the bulwark of his countIy'S welfare, the
means of his country's grandeur. Iere is the
secret Of Party despotism. We appreciate
and identify our Party with the idea which
il represents to US and the idea blinds or
paralyzes all dissent from the Party'S errors
How glorious, in the abstract conception
is Democracy How holy is the Cnion-may
ii be forever! How sublime is the prospect
Of vast virgin territories cOnsecrated to Lib
ertv Making every allowance for ambition,
and selhshness, and the spirit OF faction, these
great ideas give birth to our Parties and give
them their power. But alas how fatally
does every party as it launches and careers
amid the free and tluCtuating waves of opinion
attract the greedy shoals of delnagogues. of
fee seekers, ballot suffers and camp follow
ers the sharks and cutie fish who hang
about the ship to blacken the waters and de-
your the offal In our ccaSeless and rapid
politics, the YaluabeS sink to the bottom, and
the highest and most worthless material is
aptest to float on the crest of notoriety and
emolument. A successful party is speedily
denoralized it not only enjoys the spoils'
but it suffers the spoilings of Office. Dazzled
and corrupted with victory, distracted with
the vociterous contentious Of rival aspirants,
it forgets its principles. its inspirations be-
come mere traditions, courage degenerates in
to expedient timidtv, the live organism be-
come a dead organization, and what was
once so spontaneous and strong sinks eiiete
into the embrace Of antiquated or venal poll
ticianizers. Horace Greeley was shrewdly
right when he suggested that there ought to
be a dissolution Of all parties every ten years,
that the platforms, war cries, banners, nom
enclatures, candidates., ard squabbles Of each
decade should be sunk in some Lethean linn
bo. There is no doubt but the right men.
with the right sentiments will always, in the
event, recombinc into new, purer, and more
advanced parties.