The Portland daily press., 1863-06-03
About Parties.

About Parties.
1t becomes necessary, since certain officious
and irresponsible persons have chosen to mis-
construe an official Republican document, the
call for Union State convention, 10 consider
few plain principles touching the constitu-
ton of parties. In the first place it may as
well be borne in mind that parties exist by
necessity. Except in rare crises, ,unanimity is
not to be expected of large bodies of men.
Secondly, there are always two parties which
absorb the chief elements of political power
numbers and intelligence. The minor cliques
are temporary, seek after some comparatively
trivial result, and either waste away after long
disappointment, or rise at length, when the
hour comes, into the new Importance with
which their aim becomes invested. The
clique In this case becomes party, one of the
two great parties which must in the nature of
things exist, with rare exceptions.
Since the executive is usually supported by
a majority, it is correct enough to say that the
policy of the government is shaped by the ex-
ecutive. But it is perfectly plain, that this pol
present order of things or at change in
some direction. These are the alternatives,
and whatever be the course adopted by the
executive, there will surely be a party ar
ranged in opposition to that course. In ordi-
nary times and acting within reasonable lin
its, such an opposition is beneficial as well as
necessary. But whether beneficial or not,
there it is, and no incarnation can charm it
away. 1t will not down at any mans bidding.
The great conservative and reforming parties
do, must and will exist.
The first glow of patriotic enthusiasm, which
for time warmed all hearts with one i'm
pulse, is long since over. This generation
will never see another spring like those early
months of '6l. The fiery purpose of that
memorable year has cooled. 1t is cold and
hard and infexible now as steel. 1t will do
SO much the better to work with. We may
look for great results but it is not what it was
and with the relapse from that height of emo
ton all the customary habits of mind have re-
turned. There are two parties now, and there
will be two parties to the end of the war and
after the war. They will not be peace and
war parties. The Democratic party came too
near shipwreck in its open-mouthed advocacy
of an ignominious and futile peace. Its man.
ayers are wise in their generation. The two
parties wilIgdivide on the policy of the Admin
istration in the conduct of the war. Will d.
videi they have already divided, and one or
the other must rule. They cannot be brought
TO act together.
Now we believe that many of the leaders of
the Democratic party are,t say the very least,
reckless, INSCRIPTIONS men. We believe fur
Their, that If their motives were the purest,
their policy would be fatal. 1t is therefore a
solemn duty before God and man, to use all
honorable means to secure their defeat, to
watch them closely, to point out and charge
upon them the logical results of their theo-
ries, to see to it that the Republic receives no
detriment from their false teachings.
Can this be done by abandoning the organi-
zation Of She Republican party? Is it possible
to accomplish any large result without organ
ization? What else makes the difference
between an army and a mob? and which of
the two is power, which manifold weakness
How often have we seen town election car
ried by an absolute minority through sheer
force OF organization? God helps those who
help themselves. No matter how good our
cause, 1t will not carry us through il we sit
down and fold our hands. A coroners Jury
sitting on the Republican party and bringing
In verdict, "Found dead" is a most unhappy
omen Of success. But the Republican party,
the Administration party, is not dead. Call it
by another name, and you deceive nobody. 1t
lives still, and 1t will live. The only question
is, whether it shall live as an organic power
or as disorganized mass. We claim that the
State Committee have never for moment
entertained this wild project of giving up their
organization. The supposition that the Com
mittee designed to practice a r,tse and attract
votes by the transparent fiction of a new
name, Is not to be entertained for a moment
The Committee desires simply to announce
the ground now occupied by the Republican
party in such terms as shall be ineligible to
all. Whatever mans past connections may
have been. If he be Internationally loyal to
the Government of the United States, il he
Internationally supports all its measures for
the suppression of this rebellion, and is re-
"solved to spare no endeavor to maintain our
National Union, both in principle and terri
tory" he Is invited to deliberate and act with
the Republican party. Look at the long roll
Of Democrats, still protesting and claiming to
be Democrats, in stations OF trust from the
Cabinet down, and placed there by Republican
influence! The Administration has but one
purpose the restoration of the national au-
thority within its ancient limits. For the full
flllment of this purpose it relies upon the sup
port Of the Republican party, and not in vain.
Whoever entertains the same purpose is sure
of its support. But the party is not to be dis
organized, to render it effective! That surely
is too monstrous proposition to find general
favor
Death of Lieut.. Smith G.. Bailey.