The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-13
Party Spirit, the Spirit Of Despotism-
The Thirty Tyrants.

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and to the maintenance of the rights of the
people. But party which, from any
cause, is strong enough to exercise arbi-
trary power, is sure to become, of all tyr
annies, the most profigate and intolerable.
The spirit of party is the spirit of despot-
ism. Party moderation is evidence only
of party weakness, and fear of consequent
ces. Party impurity, whether in peace or
in war is sure to become the justification
| of every outrage.
Our national experience is sufficient to
| illustrate all the characteristics of party
rule, and to demonstrate that its natural
temper and spirit are the temper and spir-
it of despotism. Therefore, to restrain
this temper and spirit of any party that
may happen to be intrusted with the con-
duct of government, it is necessary to in
terpose constitutional prohibitions against
the exercise of powers not granted while,
to maintain the integrity of rights reserved
to citizens and communities, it is equally
necessary to provide constitutional guaran-
ties and remedies for their defence.
When party, as in the case of that
now i'll power, is strong enough, from any
cause, to suspend and disregard these con-
stitutional prohibitions, guarantees and
remedies, it becomes from that moment
the worst OF all despotism; and the
stronger it is in the popular sanction, the
more violent and reckless will it become
in the exercise of its authority. When, in
times Of national peril and danger, from
domestic or foreign foes, the constitution
of commonwealth has been suspended,
and dictatoral powers have been conferred
by the citizens upon a single person, their
rights, liberties and welfare have generally
been respected and preserved; but never
SO, when such powers have been conferred
upon party.
1t is better to have a single NERO to rule
over us, than Il party OF heroes, with
Argus eyes and Briarean hands, peering
and reaching into every mans household.
1t is better to enthrOne, With hereditary
succession, the black DOUGLAS Or the ca
daverous GREELEY, as King absolute, than
to be ruled by a whole party absolute of
black DoUGLAssEs or cadaverOus GREELYEs.
For, a tyrant knave, standing alone, is
cowardly, circumspect, and cOnciiatOry
but many such united, and standing to-
gether, become bold and arrogant, and, as
a party, will commit aggressiOns which not
one of them would have courage enough
to venture upon alone, whatever the OPP
portunity or apparent impunity.
History abounds in examples and paral
lels ''There is nothing new under the sun. :"
The history of the Thirty Tyrants Of Ath-
ems is thus far repeated with wonderful
fidelity in the career of the Thirty Tyrants
at Washington. Those of Athens were the
thirty leaders of a party suddenly elevated
to power, who, under pretence of reform
ing abuses and saving the state, destroyed
the liberties of the people, who had con-
sented to their exercise of unconstitutional
and arbitrary power. The thirty at Wash
ington are doing the same. They are re-
peating, with terrible exactness, the history
of the "Thirty of Athens
The grand object of every party is pat
ronage and power. To retain the possess
sion of these, any party, not confined in
its action within the limits of constitutional
prohibitions, guarantees, and remedies, will
violate every law, human and divine. The
American people have not yet been educa-
ted to submit to the arbitrary rule of a
single despot, but they have become &C
customed to yield with passive submission
to the injustice, perfdy, and usurpations of
party. When they shall have been fully
trained in submission to party despotism,
wherein they are now making rapid pro-
gress, their degradation will be complete
This issue has come. The party in power
has discovered that it is dangerous to toll
crate longer the principles of free speech,
free press, and free white men; the toiera-
ton of which they see and know endangers
their continuance in power, and in the pos
session of the patronage, emoluments, and
plumber of the government. Toavert this
impending DANGER they declare that all
condemnation of their principles and public
acts is treason, deserving suppression and
punishment. They see that there is no
time to lose Their craft is in danger.
They must act now, while the Thirty at
Washington are in the ascendant, and while
their chosen representative is in the execu-
tive chair to sign their edicts, rescripts and
denunciations, and to enforce in the name
of the Republican party, submission to
their despotic will.
The orators and presses OF the party are
preparing the public mind for the grand
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