The mountain Democrat., 1864-04-02
Necessity of lItlsal Parties.

SAS'eehSutS WHO iOVe ease anu lnuOlence
who are Indifferent to the public welfare,
aud cannot perceive that any of the pOit-
ical parties have achieved any permanent
or even temporary good for the country.
1t has not unfrequently been urged
against teen lHss 3nN.SSAGgaadsr no.
thing but personal animosities; that they
disturb the quietness of the public mind !;
that they estrange friends and neighbors,
prevent social intercourse, arouse the
passions of the people, and are productive
of nothing but evil.
Barring personal animosities and feel
ings, which ought not and need not form
an element of political strife, politics and
political parties, instead of being dctri-
mental, are an essential element in the
prosperity and stability of the country
Embodying, as they do, certain princi-
Piles, measures and men, conducive either
to the welfare or ruin of the country, they
serve to keep the people informed and
awake to the realization of the duties they
owe themselves they bring constantly
and intelligibly before them the whole
science of government and keep alive and
active that interest for the welfare Of a
common country which can be nurtured
in no other manner. 1t is this interest,
this desire, this determination on the part
Of the people to be governed by good
measures and men which causes such
parties to triumph, such men to be ele-
waited to power and place, and such prin-
ciples, and such only to be recognized, as
are best calculated to advance the inter
ests Of the country. Whether or not
there be any truth in the oft-repeated as
serton that the "voice of the people is
the voice of God"-that the Almi ighty
rules the country through the expression
Of public opinion and the popular will
certain it is that the people, when allowed
the privilege, never willingly work against
their own interests, nor sustain q party
which is false to their interests.
Then, if party, forgetting the princi
pies and pledges by which it obtained as
tendency, proves false to them, and vio-
lates the confidence rrposed in it, it soon
or or later gives way to another, and is
soon forgotten or mentioned only with
dissatisfaction. Thus it ever has been
and thus it ever will be, as the Abolition
lists will soon discover. 20 party relying
upon the leniency Of the people can abuse
the public trust with impunity, for great
length of time.
When a party has. through the voice
of the people, obtained aScendency, it nat
urally desires to maintain its supremacy,
which it can only do by pursuing a con,
sistent, uniform course of policy condu,
Give to the public welfare and hence the
formation Of political parties in our coun-
try is a wholesome restraint on corrupt
legislation. Parties act as a check on
each other, and the dishonesty Of one
party is exposed by the other, and re-
buked by the people.
Let US hope, therefore, that, while po,
litical parties must Of necessity exist, n
spirit Of brotherly forbearance and kind
ness will pervade them; that they will br
; characterized, not by war between classes
and sections, not by senseless jealouSicS,
but by liberality and justice. The days
when personal abuse can avail anything,
save to its recipients, have gone by, and Il
party which seeks to accomplish its ends
by misrepresenting and villifying its OPP
pOnents, is sure to accomplish its own
ruin. The Administration party has per
sistently and remorseessly misrepresent,
ed and traduced the Democratic party,
and the people are becoming convinced of
the fact, and we much mistake the signs
of the times if they do not, at the Pre>.
dental election, hurl that party from pow
er. There never has been nor is there
now any cause whatever for the existence
in politics of that personal animosity
which makes friends foes, at times dis
turbing the sacred peace Of the family
circle. 4 man is none the less man for
holding political opinions at variance with
those entertained by a majority of his
countrymcn.
1t is no exaggeration to say t3at, but
for the existence Of political parties, our
Republic could not DC maintained ii
would fall to pieces Of itself, Our Gov.
ernment is formed by public opinion
Where there is no party there is no opin-
ion; where there is no opinion there can
be no government, and where there is no
government, barbarism and dcspotiSm on
ly can hold sway. These arc self evident
propositions. might" would then be
"Right," and our country would be
crushed, never to rise again, were that
great heart of the nation, public opinion,
to cease beating. To this condition the
Aboltionists, who tolerate no difference of
opinion, desire to reduce our country.
CENsUREs ITS PARTY.-Thc Albany IN.
" Statesman, an honest Republican or
gan, says 'every branch Of Government
seems to be rceking with corruption, and
what is still worse, praying hypocrites are
preaching against exposing these rascali-
ties lest il NAV hurt the war;" Com.