The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-03

Party prejudice is too trite a theme to moralize
upon nowadays. The world has long since
grown familiar with that sort of obstinacy which
mpels men to continue a struggle against
their former adversaries for generations az
ter the original cause of dispute has been
forgotten. 1t has so often seen a whole
community range itself on this or the other side
of political controversy, influenced solely by the
magic of party name-it has SO often watched
partisans following a well-known banner until
they have unconsciously found themselves occu-
pying and defending the very ground from which
they formerly sought to drive their opponents,
that it has ceased to comment on this queer
characteristic of human nature. But though it is
not worth while TO discuss or protest against
spirit which will continue to animate mankind to
the end of time it is proper, and perhaps profit
able task, to note and record the more glaring in
stances in which this perversity and inveteracy of
disposition has manifested itself. If they do not
serve as warnings in the future they are at least
historical facts, and as such, deserve mention.
The most striking example which has occurred
in our time and latitude of this blind and logged
adherence to old antipahies, is to be found in the
conduct of a portion of the old Wing party. 1t is
strange to see how large number of those who
still delight to term themselves old line Wings,
will take ground, as it were, insnctvely,
against anything and everything which the
Democratic party suggests or advocates. To
break down the latter seems to be the only
political object which the former have in view,
and for this they frequently forget principle and
sacrifice consistency. They fight with the weapons
they once affected to lie above using; and they
prescribe their adversaries for achieving what
they themselves once advocated, and strenuously
sought to accomplish. The public has not forgot
ten how large proportion Of the old Wing party
looked on with indifference when this city was
surrendered 10 the hreing ruffians, who ruled it
according to club law. There were, it is true,
many, very many, individuals who had chung to
the Wing party through all vicssiude of fortune,
and until it ceased to exist, who execrated then,
as they had always, the lawless violence and
fraud which were so openly perpetrated. But
considerable and influential class of Wings, who
had for years denounced the rowdyism which they
said their opponents fostered, regarded ruff
fanism with a leniency that was equivalent to
direct encouragement, when in its EXTREMIST and
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But the strangest form in which this unceasnp hos
ty on the part of this class of old!ine Wings has
appeared, is that in which it has last manifested
itself. Of all the accusations which they have
brought against the Democratic party, none has
been more frequently and angry repeated than
that which charged the latter with being extreme
and radical. They have argued, over and over
again, that the tendencies of Democratic theories
and measures were to d moralize the people and
to destroy the efficiency and influence of the Gov
eminent; and they have always insisted that there
was no hope for the perpetuty of our institutions
save in the conservatism of the Wings. Now, how
ever, we find them vindictively assaling the Demo-
cratic party of the Confederate States, not simply
for inauguratng q revolution, but for exhibiting
in their work of reorganization what are called
anti-Republican proclivities. The secession ordi-
nances were passed, and the Congress at Mont
gomery, called together by representatives of the
people, duly and specially elected for such pur-
poses, and the Constitution of the Confederate
States has been duly ratified by these delegates of
the people, and yet the identical individuals who
have made so much clamor about the radicasm of
Democratic politicians, are now furious because
lHe NdIlOuS OOHNcHtlOus Vi Tue OO0Ieuefale states
have not gone through the form of submitting the
new Constitution to the popular vote. Leading
Wing speakers are denouncing the course of the
Southern Congress as indicating monarchical'
tendencies, and prominent journals of the old Wing
school are brimfull of Indignation at what they
term the aristocratic' proceedings of the states
men at Montgomery The Boston Courier, and the
New York Tribune, echoing the voice of many of
their old associates in the North are loud in their
complaints of the Emonarchical" and faristocra-
"tic'' party which is presuming to dictate 10 the
people of the Gulf States; and the american,
speaking for certain segment of the Wing party
in this latitude, expresses the same condemnation
in equally explicit, though feebler fashion. Now
whatever sins the Democratic party may be re-
sponsible for in connection with the secession
movement it cannot be denied that it has at least
earnestly endeavored to prevent in the new Con-
federacy the growth of that corruption and radi-
calism which has been well-nigh fatal to this
government. Indeed, the very charge which is
brought against the trainers of the Montgomery
Constitution, is an admission of the conservatism
of their views. Bat nothing will please those
indefatgable old line Wings, who are bent upon
keeping alive forever the fire of an ancient feud.
Yesterday they striving to convince the
country that the Democratic party was dangerous
because it was radical; and to-day they fear that
its over-conservaive tendencies are to be utterly
suoversive of our rights and liberties