Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-07
w CE S T E r :
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 4, 1863.
Recurring TO First Principles.


One of our democratic exchanges, which
becomes furious when ii is characterised ac
-eQjrhing to the work it does, yesterday REQUIRED
to general principles long enough to state
"the issue" 1t argues a certain honesty of
purpose, in the confusion and disorder OF the
times, to try to get back to the light of any
principle, even if it is put TO a bad use. In
the case of this oracle of Massachusetts de-
mocracy-engaged in the unusual effort Of
seeking truth by the aid of general principle
we commend the effort, while we are COM
PEELED to denounce the result. For
never before did an apparently we'll
meant purpose lead to so lame and impo-
tent a conclusion. We shall state Its
case in nutshell. The Post asserts that the
cardinal principle OF the democratic party is
the suppression of the rebellion that the only
way of accomplishing the end is by means of
dividing the south; that in opposing the great
war measures of the administration it is con-
tributing the utmost possible to that result
This is its reasoning; and this its conclusion
"The question with the people Of Massachu-
sets is-do they want this war to cease? If
so they must desert the flag of Charles Sum-
ner, and join the conservative ranks. If they
wish to have continual strife and bloodshed,
and pour out their blood like water,
they have but to sustain the schemes of abo-
litionism"-and more of the same kind.
Surely, this is swift logic. But by wise
dispensation of divine providence, the race is
not always to the swift We state the Posts
pet sylogism with entire fairness; and vet
upon its face it is false in assumption, and
absurd in result. Historically, when the re-.
bellion was first proclaimed. the democratic
party was supreme in the country, and had
been for eight years. During that time, for
the most part in the city of Washington,
under the eye of democratic congresses,
cabinets, and presidents, the rebel con-
spiracy was concocted and perfected.
Where was 'the cardinal principle then?
Even the recreant president Pierce, whom
JEFF Davis carriedin his side pocket during
those four years OF national dishonor, even he
might with one stroke of his weak hand have
crushed the cOckatrce in its egg. And there
wasn't day during the administration of Mr.
Buchanan, from its peaceful beginning to its
dark and disastrous end, when he could not
have made successful conspiracy impOsSi-
BILE, if he had not himself been bound up in
it, or if he had had an honest party at
his back. The ''cardinal principle" is an af-
ter thought shrewd device seized upon to
ward pfft no nF
But grant the assumption-the next step is as
faulty as the -.,4Siv.- =.
by a modified and lenitive process is delu.
sion OF the first water. If there is any other
way Of meeting resolute and defiant rebel
lion than by quick, sharp, incisive strokes OF
war, it has not yet been revealed. II
there is any surer way of dividing the
rebellion in order to facilitate the
conquest than by swapping the bond that
holds it altogether, it has not yet been discov-
cred. But on the contrary common sense
and all experience unite TO prove that in times
of great peril INDIGESTION is itself disaster, and
half measures suicide. The question with
the people of Massachusetts is indeed, dc
they want this war to cease? The answer is
not doubtful. But how? Surely not by de-
sertioD to the camp OF the enemy-surely
not by building up the party, of all others,
which history will hold responsible, not by
any remote or fine processes of deduction,
but directly, actively, obviously responsible
for the rebellion and its calamities First
principles lead to no such result as that.
They never will serve a cause which bids
equal defiance to reason and to fact.