Washington telegraph., 1863-07-01

Il PARr:Es-TaER Uses AND DANGERse-Bui
; kfor the currents of the ocean, and the storms
which ever and anon tear and agitate its sur.
face, it would become dead and putrid mass.
Around the torrid zone green and stagnan,
scum would cover its face, in which year bx
year for ages, beneath the burning sun, vile
and Shiny reptiles would breed and decav
whilst the arctic regions would harden into
masses of ice. The earth would become barren
and pestilent, unfit for the habitation of man.
But these currents, in their ceaseless flow, bring
down the cool fresh waters of the poles. to
mingle with the heated waves of the equator,
and carry the latter far off to the poles, to
lave ths shores Of frozen lands, to break up
| the neids Of ice, spd float them far back again
to mitigate the Aeat Of warmer climes. The
oreezes which pass over them catch a refresh
ing sweetness. and inspire vigor into the ener-
vated frames of the children of the sun, whilst
IN the colder regions the warm waters raise up
mists and rains which fall over the lands, and
clothe them with verdure.
This is natures grand type of the blessings
of wise and proper agitation. But there are
other lessons also. The destructive fury of the
tempests afford terrible admonition of the evils
of this agitation when excessive and ill-timed.
Although We must admit that it is the most
sophistlcal of all reasoning-that of analogies
from natural objects applied to moral or social
questiors, yet they nevertheless afford the
most striking illustrations, and enable the
mind to grasp at once the whole idea, in all
cases in which such analogies exist.
In society and civil government this analogy
exists, and has become established by the his
tory Of nations. Agitation in its most health
full form has always been the parent of truth
IN religion, philosophy and politics. Society
in its progress has been borne upon the wings
of parties and conflicting systems, infusing into
mental exertions the stimulus of human pas
slons, and enlisting 10 the watchful guard of
truth the more vigilant powers of human pre-
ferences, hates and jealousies.
NO free government can exist without par
ties This is self-evident. Through them the
principles of civil liberty are kept continually
alive in the minds of men. By parties the
citizens are aroused to continual vigilance of
their rulers, and take care always that their
acts are bounded by the limits of those great
fundamental principles which form the CON-
pact of government The mass of mankind
will not act from higher motives than their
passions. Without parties, and the passions
which spring from party, they would fall into
of
themselves TO their private gains or pleasures.
The encroachments ofpower are always stealthy
and insidious. They would not be psrceptible
to people lulled into calm, and confident in
their rulers. They would yield in easy COM
placency to every turn of the screw, until they
found themselves bound hand aud foot. and
pressed into condition of hopeless subiura- |
ion.
But this operation of party spirit, mixed
t Is with so much of human passion that is i'm
perfect has its terrible evils, and results at
lines in destructive hurricanes ard tempests.
L is the part of wisdom to direct it wisely, and |
estrain it in those channels where its uses will |
,e benefcent only.
One great element of salvation, in times of |
peril, is wholly incompatible with the exist
'nce of party spirit. 1t is unanimity. In |
imes of peace and public security, this unani- |
nifty is not desirable. Whilst no great domes- |
hreaten, the division of the people upon ques-
ions of public policy is attended with far more
,ood than evil. Parties rise and fall, and the
'eople hate their opponents, and love their
,arty friends; but out of all this agitation
rises higher and Gle arer ideas of government,
ghich finally prevail But it is nevertheless
rue, that the people suspect each other, and |
tand ever ready to thwart the plans of their
opponents, without fair and unprejudiced con-
liberation. In times of peril, when everything |
depends upon prompt and united action, party |
pirit is fatal.
We need not review the histories of peoples |
o find examples. One lies before our eyes. |
The spirit of party which ragged so iercely be- |
ween the Democrats and Black Republicans
n the government of the United States, has |
allied around Lincoln the support of men edu- |
lated in principles of free government, in suf- |
icient numbers to enable him to trample the |
Constitution under his feet, and establish a |
iespotism. 1t is incredible that they should |
Ia We done 80; but in the blind zeal of party, |
which shut out from their sight those principles
If free government for which their fathers, as
veil as ours, so nobly contended in I776 A |
loble Constitution, the admiration of the |
world, has been seized by the tempest, and
zone down in ruins. They have kept up their
PARTIES at the North in the midst of the war.
The results are fortunate for us, and will be
more so if we learn well the lesson which their
ate has taught.
The time will come with the first CLEAN of
peace, when parties will arise, as they should
do But the time is not now. Just in the
very crisis of our danger, every heart beat in
the land should be in unison with all others.
We need above all things unanimity. 1t is our
only salvation. Political contests are danger
Gus. Men enlisted for different candidates
cannot rise to the serene philosopy Of separa t.
ing the cause Of the country from their parti-
zan feelings. What should be lone in this re-
gard will most assuredly not be; and men will |
give way to the warmth of personal feeling to |
suspect the motives Of those who oppose their |