The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-03-30
CHANGE OF PARTY ISSUES

That the old political parties Of this country
have been discharged OF all meaning. and in fact
OF all function, by the course Of events s truth
too obvious 70 need confirmation. Their fastest
platforms, as We are accustomed to call their
declarations Of principle though not four years
old, are nearly sntiqusted, so far as auy prac-
ticvl uses are concerned, as the ceremonial lsw
OF Moses, or those barbaric codes which gov
erned the German races in their first irruption
into the Roman Empire. They have little or no
reference TO the actual circumstances OF the IA.
ton, having arisen in a wholly different ccndi.
ton OF things, and contemplating a widely differ
ent state OF public sentiment.
II We take the republican party for example
We shAl. hnd 10 its creed, as publiihed at Chica
80 IN 1860, that lie sole reasons for being was Is
opposition 10 the spread Of slavery into the ter.
rltories, and 10 the increase OF that poser in the
National government. Scarcely ANYTHING else
Was mentioned In the symbol. exceptiucidentalv,
or II lis bearings on that main aud most impor-
tant point Bat NhO cares nov about the ex-
tension OF slavery towards the base OF the Rocky
Mountains, ~hen the question before Us Is
whether it shall even so much as exist AZ the
base Of the Aleghaniess Or, secondly. take the
Douglas Democratic platform. adopted at Char
lesion and Baltimore the same year. and we shall
see that u was chiefly solcitOos about the SOW
n
the squatters A. they we're STYLED. and the spec
dy acquisition Of the island OF Cuba But those
matters are nov as obsolete as the almanac OF
the year. Any one who should broach Them
from the stump would be gszed a, with a. much
wonder as Rip Van Winkie was when he began
70 discourse after the Revolutionary war OF the
good old times OF King George.
Or, finally, read the Breckenridge Democratic
platform, erected at the same time, and marx
how Its entire pith il exhausted in the assertion
that shareholders have right to take their hu.
maa cattle, well as other property. into AL
the domains Of the United States. The entire
system which the Breckenridge Democrats
wished TO Introduce and riVet in the Territories
has been Knocked 20 slivers in the States. props.
STAYS and bolts are gone TO pieces; aud the
practical question for these gentlemen IL.
whether they shall help il the work Of destruc-
Eion, as jeff. Davis and his Cabinetare said to be
prepared TO do, or try to save part from the
general wreck.
Now, We ask how these parties are TO contin-
ue their former organizations when the a.s.-
~h'eh ha'1 1hem being are altogether changed.
hen tue brains are out says Shakespeare, the
nan will die, and the same is true of political as
soclations. When their brains are gone. or
when the rational grounds for their existence
no longer obtain, their bodies or outward organ
izatons also cease TO work. They NAV retain
their name, for the sake Of the prestige, lust as
makers OF cologne water all call shemselves Jean
Maria Farina; but the identity will be gone -
They NAV even show some vitality, like a snake
that has lost his head bat they are none .he
less certainly dead, and destined soon 10 be all.
sorbed into other more living bodies. Parties
cannot, auy more than families, sub.ist on their
mere traditions; they must connect themselves
vito the realities OF the day. With the actual
lie OF the time aud place, and be formed and
take ;heir color well az their inspiration from
the controlling necessities Of the nation. With
every radical revolution in the situation Of the
country there must be inevitably no less radical
revolution IN the relations OF opinion aud the
parties which represent that opinion will under.
go a corresponding modifcation-N. Y. Eyen-
ing Post.