Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-07
THE PRESIDENCY.

THE PRESIDENCY.
1t ought to be a cause of congratulation and
pride, that the republican party of the country
has opened the campaign under circumstances
of so much encouragement. In many parts
of New England and New York, and nearly
all of the great West, the work has been al
ready ORGANIZED with an earnest and hopeful
spirit, which is the prophecy and beginning OF
success. In the prudence and moderation of
its counsels, in the integrity of its statesmen,
and in the excellence of its cause, there is a
three fold assurance that the contest will be an
honorable one, and the triumph sure. Peace
full revolutions have been accomplished before
in opinions, institutions, and governments.
But the heavens never smiled on their begin
nings and their early struggles more kindly
than on ours. Since the republican party was
organized, and its purposes defined, there has
been no historical parallel with the even and
equal march of its progress. The memory of
old parties for while stood in its way but
that tractable memory was absorbed, and
changed into hope for the new. Disturbing
and hostile organizations audaciously sprung
up in its path, but it passed over them, and
they are forgotten. And there is nothing, to-
day between it and the control of the federal
government, for the sake of preserving it, but
a few flying months-and divided or cowardly
counsels.
There is certainly agreeable and abundant
reason to believe that there will be sincerity
enough in the Chicago convention to overrule
division and distrust. There is no general
consent or federation of the blind local animos'
ity which, sometime in the most important
crisis takes the place of the clear-sighted
vision which ought to regard only principles,
and the best way of advancing them. 1t is the
disposition of the time, discovered from obser-
walton not very limited, to lay aside unessential
differences and to stand united for essen
tiaI success. From many a place whose
influence has been weakened OF lost by
its own fault the appeal has honestly gone
forth, '1et there be an entrance for us in
long enough" And without speaking pro-
tanely, we believe it to be heartfelt desire
and prayer to God of all the best elements of
the Republican party that all such appeals may
be gratifed. But the cause does not wait for
them
The greater peril will rise, if at all, from
distrust of our own strength. 1t is already
manifested in the form of an argument for the
nomination of a candidate outside of the par
ty, tor the sake of winning outside support.
1t is the imperishable argumentof cowardice-
the troubler of every Israel since the flood.
1t needs no effort to show how ignoble and
fallacious it is. 1t is in the spirit of the ans
wer of the French general in the civil wars OF
France Condo was asked how it happened
he did not take Turenne prisoner, when he
was often SO near him. ~ al peur," replied
Condo, az al peur gu il ne me prenne." I
.tTaid he would take me. Both from the
uninterrupted maturing of just principles, and
the natural repugnance to the utter blackness
and audacity of the democratic policy, the Re-
publican party has gained in consolidation and
strength from the moment of its birth, when it
was almost invincible. Since 1856 its growth
has not been irregular and spasmodic, provoked
by usurpations of the courts, or irruptions of
barbarious into free territories, but regular and
constant, and is now with the people the domi-
nent and controlling power. How could it be
otherwise when the accepted and approved
representatives of the democratic party, its
unrebuked senators, its ministers at foreign
courts, are daily teachers of disunion and con-
spirators against liberty? God forbid that all
of them should be judged by the few whom
they applaud. Bnt their position is not to be
concealed. "Who is ignorant" said the monk
of Clairvaux, "of the vanity and arrogance of
the Romans people nursed in sedition, un-
tractable, and scorning to obey. When they
promise to serve, they aspire to reign. If they
swear allegiance, they watch the opportunity
to revolt Sedtious among themselves, jeal-
GUS of their neighbors, inhuman to strangers,
they love no one, by no one are they beloved.
While they wish to inspire fear, they live in
base and continual apprehension. They will
not submit, they know not how to govern.
Lofty in promise, poor in execution; calumny,
perfdy, and treason, are the familiar arts of
their policy" What is the remedy our timid
and papitating friends propose To be gem
tie, inohensive, and deterental in statement,
and negligent of our organizations and our en-
inent statesmen in action. To listen to such
advice is humiliation. To follow it is defeat
We trust that prudent counsels will prevail
in the convention to-day. With a history lu-
minous with examples of patriotic and self
sacrificing devotion to the cause of freedom.
her archives crowded with protestatons of the
sincerity of her love, Massachusetts, has no
right to give forth an uncertain sound to the
states anxiousy awaiting the result of her
conventions The states of the far west, in
themselves great empires will listen to-day,
to hear if we, rich in variety of acquire
ments, and favored above measure in the gifts
of Providence, are prepared to fall behind
them in their confidence and desire of vic.
tory.
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.