Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-30
MORNIVIEADER.
'' UnionD Party.
"A "a our RAIDERS an Al


1d to our readers an article
49,. ~ SoIlt Idlffalo Express, upon the aFruits
ofUn;e 1t is good toPOuder and study
over,
me political Union mschipe in this
o.ae, which was invented in 1851 By
ass Of adTenturers, for personal adyan-
age, and which demanded the surrender
Of the Republican party and its prinei-
ples, when it was in the enjoyment Of all
the life and energy that glorious victory
could afford, begins to send forth It's leglt-
innate fruits. Never was party SO grossly
and sbanefully betrayed as was the Rs.
publican organization, when it consented, f,
in the fall OF 1851, to an alliance which
possessed neither principle nor the adhe-
siVe power OF good faith and frsternsl ao-
ton 70 give it permanence or secure for 1t
common respect In that fatal step it
sealed its fate in the Empire State, where
it held supremacy by more than $4,000
majority. It lost its organic power-it
reliuquished its hold on the great princi-
pies which had given 1t suceess-it yielded
its birth-right and future hopes-and it
received in exchange for these most essen
tial elements of endurance and strength,
individual accessions from the Democratic
party. These gentlemen were willing to
take cfice, if the Republicans were gener-
GUS enough to bestow it upon them; but,
in nine eases out OF ten where they did
not secure that sort of compensation, and
in several cases where they did, they have
returned to their first love, leaving those
who then took them to their confidence the
poor consolation of knowing that they
have been betrayed and deserted. This is
q sample statement Of the case. We will
not contend that all who took part in the
union referred to, from the Democratic
side, were Of this class, for they were not )
but subsequent events showed that in 8
majority Of cases, it was q mere matter Of
adventure, without principle, or any pur-
pose beyond that which sctuates the mer-
oenary.
ave understand that one of the present
State officers, who was elevated in 1861 by
Republican votes, considers that he has
lived out his lease to those who elected him,
and is now, to all intents and purposes, in
the confidence and service of the Demo-
cratic party. This is but legitimate fruit
Of such an alliance as class Of Republi-
cans, who ran the machine at that time
and have had too much to do with it since,
fastened upon their party and the State in
that campaign. The truth is, they have,
under a want Of ssgacity, tact and sound
Judgment, run the party organization off
the track and into the very earth, and are
now helpless to secure its restoration or
return TO its former position Of power and
usefulness. The departure from principle
can never be made good by corrupt bar
gains or cunning devices for temporary
success. The destinies Of political Or
ganization are never safe in the hands Of
those who have no higher aim than to make
il subserVient to q selfish ambition. Those
who adhere under such influences are sure
TO desert when their own qualification
ceases to hold them in its embrace. They
look for a new field when that which they
occupy no longer affords them the means
Of elevation and power.
aFor this reason it was q sad day when
s oless Of Republican statesmeni insisted
upon q Union in this State which possess
ed neither principle or honesty Of purpose
and intention on the part Of many Of those
who came among US, to see what they
could find worth appropriating TO them
selves, and who, when that source Of at
traction was exhausted, went back to the
Democratic camp to laugh at the simplici-
ty Of party which sought new recruits
under such circumstances and from such
questionable sources. We gathered crop
from this sowing last fall and we are now
garnering another in a disorgsnized
Houss Of Assembly which is attracting the
notice and contempt Of the whole country.
II we learn wisdom from this, it may COM
psusate in some degree for what we have
suffered; but we fear that the harvest
throughout will be one Of modification and
regret"