Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-10
lParties.

| a party may exist Ior an Indefinite period OF
time, based upon q single apparently abstract
truth or political axiom, 90 long as it does mol
attain to power. But when such q party once
receives the reins on power, and is thus com.
| PEELED to apply their principles practically iu
the guidance of the chip of State. their real
truth or falsity at once becomes apparent. and
the question OF their success or final defeat h
very soon disposed of. So with Q party repre-
senting principles entagonistic to each other.
but the members of which are held together by
the cohesive power of common antaeonism N
another party, it will live and flourish so lone
as it does not attain to power, and ia not oom.
pelled to act upon definite line or policy which
shall Tepudiate tho one or the other OF tbese
antagonistic principles. But to any party con-
sututed like either in the cases above named.
success 10 Tar more dangerous than defeat; in
| fact, II is but the signal of dissolution. That
party can only live and endure which has for
It's basis platform Of principles which covers
the whole field of governmental action, which
are harmonious as whole, and are adapted In
their practical workings to the capacities of
man as he is, and to the varied wants and in
terests OF the whole country, political and geo
graphical. Such party ls not ruined by suc
cess, nor ia 1t cast down by defeat Though IL
may be beaten at the polls time and again.
though il may be betrayed by those whom il has
elevated to power, the principles still live, aud
will always rally around them from the
masses vigorous, energetic and hearty sup
port. ao go ,aiv ~
The Republican party when it came into DOW
or was composed of elements radically antago.
nistic. 1t had within Its Organization, recog-
nized among its members, four-fifths If not
nine tenths of the old radical Abolition party.
These men left the Gerrit Smith and Garrison
Organisations not because of any change of
opinion on the subject of slavery, but because
they expected to effect through that organiza.
ton, by gradually giving it an Abolition direc-
ti0n, that which they could not hope to do with
the feeble numbers Of the original Abolition
party. Their sentiments are represented by
the Summers, the Beechers, the Giddings, the
Lovejoys, and now by the Greeleys of the party
II Is this element which is now demanding
proclamation of the President emancipsting all
the slaves Of the rebel States. II stands by
Fremont in his proclamation, and opposes the
President In his modification Of It. 1t is imbued
with an invincible hatred offthe South and
Southern institutions. 1t is faHatical in the ex,
treme, and would like to wipe out the South
and slavery at single blow. The only real
difference between this class and the Garrison
ians is not in their principles, but in the mode
and means of accomplishing their purpose
They think they can accomplish the desired 10.
suit through the Republican organic alton SOON
er than they can by the regular rAbolition-.hat
is all the difference there isbetween them. On
the other hand, there is large conservative
element which repudistes these Abolition senti-
ments and doctrines, and has no sympathy with
their purposes or designs. Il was this element,
With the aid o. Greeley--who was impelled BY
vindictive motives to act against those with
whom he sympathized ~ opinion--which lust
dad in ~
Presidency over Mr.. Seward, who then was the
candidate of the radicals of the Republican
party, but who now In the Cabinet, il is under
Stood occupies conservative position.
Between these two extremes il graduated ev-
cry shadeo OF opinion; but the members of that
organization may generally be classified under
the heads Of either abolitionists or conserva-
tives. The conservative portion are as radical.
| ly opposed to abolition as are she Democrats
Indeed, they really at heart believe in the posi-
ton Of the Democracy on the slavery question,
but yet, from prejudice or dislike to change
their political associations, or for other reasons
satisfactory to themselves, they refuse to COOP
| crate with that party, which really represents
their views, and continue In affiation with those
whose opinions are the very antipodes OF their
own, in hopes to control the action of the party
upon that question. They may succeed in d
degree, but the past action of the party in the
several States shows that rAdicalism has the
Rscendaney and generally controls its policy.
AS matters now stand, the radical element is
restive and dissatisfied. Its organs are "pitch
ing In" on the Administration in q manner
which, if initiated by Democratic presses,
would exclude them from the mails as danger
GUS to the peace of the country.
| The pressure Of the war question may keep
those elements acting together while the war
lasts, but the seeds of decay and dissolution are
already sown and its history will soon be writ.
ten. In Its place will be found one which will
be composed. of the radical portion of the pres
ent Republican organization, and which will
boldly inscribe its abolition principles upon its
BANNER, and give battle for power and place in
the State and Federal governments. The Dem
ocratic organization is exposed to no such dis.
aster Success does not divide it, nor does de.
feat impair its strength Its principles have all
been tried and tested by the intallibe standard
4 Of experience, and are proved to be adapted to
the constitution and the wants of the county,
| 1t Is true that bad men have sometimes control
led its minor organizations, that conspirators
have c-ept into its counsels; and it ia also
lamentedly true that 1t has been betrayed by
men whom 1t has elevated to power and place
| These things would have damned beyond hope
of redemption any party which had not for its
practical workings, were adapted to and neces-
sary for the successful administration of the
government under our republican Institutions
These principles are as true and as important
to-day as they ever have been; and no admins
tration, which desires to administer the Gov
ernment iu accordance with constitutional prin-
cipies and do equal justice to all portions OF the
country, can fail to be guided by them in its
action.
This has been the case with Mr.. Lincoln, on
the only question of party character on which
ne has been compelled to adopt defniteipol-
icy, viz in the treatment Of the slavery ques-
ton. In this regard Mr.. Lincoln's Administers
tion Is not an exception, for every administra-
tion which has been elected in opposition to the
Democratic, have ultimately adopted, ON impcr-
tant questions, in their administration Of affairs,
the Democratic policy, This was true OF the
one elected in l64S, on the slavery question
and It is true thus far Of the present Admins
traton, in their measures, also, on the question
Of slavery.
The principles of the Democratic platform
are right. They receive to day the sanction oi
every Democrat In the country. And they
really are approved by at least one half of the
Republican party. Sooner or later those meu
who thus harmonize in sentiment must and
will act together. The great interests of the
country will demand it, for in no other way
4 can the Government be saved from destruction
BY the mad schemes Of fanstcism. How this ID
to be accomplished may not now be a practical
question, but it will sooner or later be forced
upon the attention Of the conservative portion
lof the Republican party, and 1t is worth theil
while to be giving u consideration. - Dsiroi