Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-03-26
PARTIES.

MA IEA.D'
1t is said that parties are a necessity in a
Republican Government That they exercise
wholesome restraint upon each other, tie
tendency Of which is to preserve the purity
Of Tie Government and pcrpetuate. in their
prestne cxcellcncy the Institutions originated
by the founders of the nation.
This may be all true, nay, we doubtless
think is SO. In the history of this Gov
ernment tie rise and fall Of many paltics
has been witnessed. In the carly days Of
the nation we had the Federal party, Of
which Washington and Hamilton were prJm-
inent members, and the Republicans party, Of
which Jefferson was the leader. Changes in
tie names Of the parties more or less ex-
plessive OF their leading principles, occurred
until the nation was divided into the two
great and powerful organizations that sprung
up soon after the death of the patriot Jack
Bon, viz: tho Wing and Democratic parties
The contests between these two were warm
and often bitter, resulting with but few ex-
ceptions, in favor Of the latt.r. The success
of the Democracy enabled them to reward
their friends with places of honor and emol-
umcnt, the tendency Of which was, as is
natural, to attach them and Their friends
more unyieldng 10 tie organization that had
been to the source of power and at least Of
competency, if not of wealth.
The success Of the Democracy and tie de-
feats Of the Wigs, led such men of the
last named party who cared more for power
and place than they did for principles, TO
abandon the party of their first and carly
choice, and to cast in their lots with that
party which had the power to reward them
for their fidelity. AS an inducement to
prominent Wings to abandon their party
affiliations, and cast in their lots with the
Democracy, it was found almost universally
to be the case that they were promptly APP
pointed to Office or nominated to ill lucra-
tive places, to which the Democracy, with
the few friends they could induce to vote for
them from the Wig ranks, was certain to
secure their election. The certain and inev-
liable tendency of this policy was to lead
nearly all the corrupt elements of the land
to identify themselves with the Democracy,
as it would have done with Whiggery under
similar circumstances. The effect of this
state Of things was seen in the Charleston
Convention and the final separation Of the
Democracy into two parties, most bitter and
uncompromising in their hostility the one TO
the other, until we are finally landed in
terrible and bloody civil war--a war for the
preservation not only Of cur nationality, but
even of our liberties.
In the midst Of the fearful struggle in
which We arc engaged, the corrupt portion
Of the Democracy are cndeavoring to keep
up their organization, and are laboring most
indeiatisaby to thwart the Administration
in its efforts to suppress the rebellion, and
to produce discord in the loyal States, if not
to inaugurate in those States, now so peace
full and prosperous, a civil war that is to
inure to the success Of the Southern traitors.
Hence the resistance which we lave recently
seen made to the arrest Of desertcrs in the
Free Statcs-the combinations to resist the
payment Of taxes he nomination Of known
dis,oyal men for Office the passage of reso-
buttons condemnatory Of the war and the
policy Of the Administrations cry for
peace and an armistice-the speeches Of such
men as Nallandigham, Seymour, of Cornec
tcutt, and Wood, of New York, and others
of that ilk, all indicating that the very heart
Of the Democracy, as now organized, is with
the rebels and hostile to their country. Such
doubtless, are the views entertained by such
patriots as Andrew johnson, of Tennessee,
Brady, of New York, Wright, Of Indiana,
and others, with the crowds Of truly patriotic
Dnr ocrats who have lei. the comforts of
their homes to do battle for their country on
the bloody field Of strife Hereafter-the in
dcations point Enthusiastically to it az a fact
the Democratic organization will be recog-
nized as the rebel party in the Loyal States
their triumph will be the triumph Of those
who have no objections to the overthrow q
the institutions Of their country, solely and
simply that they might retain power through
the influence of Southern aristocratic slave
holders. The time has come when all true