Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-15


action At the North. only caniing imbecility can
deprecate ,he formation % an organized, efficient
and patriotic opposition PARTY IN the loyal States
Such an opposition party = the great necessity OF
the times II l. manly owing % it. existence
that we are nov on the brink Of counter feyolu-
tion and anarchy The People have con6dingiy
surrendered 10 this administration such an Excess
Of power that il has assumed toward them the
bearing and enforced upon them the arbitrary
edicts Of a despotism, sud large bodies Of them
are beginning 10 mediate is overthrow By the
same irregular and revolutionary methods by
which despotisms are subverted. We protest, in
the name Of free government and constitutional
liberfs against all such reasonable proceedings.
against all such desperate and anarchical resorts.
Under free Consultation a weak administration
can be dep0sed only by pow erful opposition par
~ speaking through the ballotbox and controi-
ing the elections
Without the safety valves Of a tree press. un-
trammeled discussion and party opposition. the
pent up political passions generated by admins
trative imbecility and acts Of arbitrary power
gather fearful and explosive strength The con
dition of the country i now such that these safe
ty-valyes must be re opened. there is danger
that our deliberately constructed and nicely bal
anced system OF government will lie about us in
scattered and disjointed fragments.
But let the public voice be pronounced EN-
phatically against the present Administration in
the approaching fall elections, and change Of
measures, either with or without change Of
men, Is Inevitable. The only authentic express
ion of the public will, under free Government,
is through the balot-bOx. Such party opposition
is the regular constitutional method, under our
Government. Of deposing incompetent rulers. We
seem 10 be close upon period when the country
will choose between changing the Administration
by party action through the elections, or by htiul
and irresponsible action inspired by dangerous
revolutionary passions III the opposition party
prevails in the State elections tins fall, change
of Cabinet will follow Of course but il Is absurd
to suppose that Mr.. Lincoln will reconstruct his
administration If powerful majorities in all the
loyal States set the seal of public appreciation on
his past course. Ii an opposition Congress -
elected. its arrogant bullying of the Executive,
which has been the source Of nine tenths OF our
disasters. will cease But if most of the present
members are re elected, their Endorsement by the
people will make them more arrogant, domireer
ing. and absurd than ever.
The necessity, then, for earnest, vigorous
patriotic and powerful opposition party, is too
manifest TO be reasonably questioned. That the
Democratic Convention at Albany will contribute
10 the organization of such party in their action
to-day would bea hazardous prediction. The re
cent history of that party affords slight guarantee
of that elevation above mere party views and
ends, and OF that liberal spirit of wise tolerance
toward other citzens-friends of constitutional
liberty, who love the Union and favor a vigorou.
prosecution of the war--whch could make il the
nucleus of a successful conservative opposition
But whatever doubts there may be on this point
the necessity of an efficient opposition party i:
unques tonable, and nothing contributes more tc
such efficiency than a thorough organization
whose ramihcations already extend into every
county and township of the State.
Frequent elections and free party action are IN,
very essence of republican government; they are
it, vital air and daily bread. Weak and incom
petent rulers can be displaced only by party op
position, revolutionary violence. As the in
sttuuon OF marriage is the worlds Safeguard
against brutal license of the sexual passions; ne
the institution of property protected by the law.
l. the best restraint on the acquistve instinct a.
pure religion - the only antidote to wild fanat
cism and debasing superstition--so regular polit
ical parties in which opposition 10 the measure o
Government can find efficient expression is the
only alternative TO revolutionary violence wher
TIM conviction that the public safety demands
change OF rulers becomes deep aid universal
In the absence of an opposition party the countr,
is drifting swiftly into the rapids above the revo
tionary cataract. But ii we are to have power
ful opposition party. must have also the ndis
pensable prerequisites and accompaniments, with
out which il is a hollow and delusive sham W,
must have tree press, free assemblies of th'
people to deliberate the public welfare, il
short all those sacred rights OF ireemen enumera
ted in the Constitution and regarded by il as in
voable.