Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-08
THE LOYAL OPPOSITION.

tion of an qopposition party" under our Govern
ment. This regret is equally just whether the
question springs froE disposition on the part Of
those in power to deny the right of making loyal
opposition to measures of administration, OF
whether it springs from an abuse Of that right by
tue party in the minority. We are gratifed to
observe that the New York Times, which is a
| representative paper of the Administration, in
making some general observations on the functions
Of San opposition party" argues strongly in favor
Of the necessity of such an organization. 1t says:
"We think an opposition 10 almost as necessary con-
stitutonal State Administration and the fault we
have found with the Democrats was not that they ccns
tuted opposition but that their opposition of the
kind it was We do not believe that long human
nature remains what it is any body of be safely
entrusted with power and at the time shielded from
all criticism upon their manner of using it. Liberty can
not be preserved economy efficiency secured with
out the exercise of somewhat suspicious vigilance the
part of some portion Of the public 1t not therefore,
merely because they found fault that the Democrats
brought themselves to ruin and confusion, but because
they did nothing else but find fault not because they
10 opposition but because they opposed every thing the
Government did proposed to dogood bad, and indif
erent Opposition of this kind what termed factous,
and when carried in time of nures to the benefit,
not OF the country, but OF the public enemy.
eff they will give up these vagaries give up the vo
ence olapguage with which they themselves and
the country and confne themselves to honest and calm
criticism of the conduct of the Government while fairly
recognising the war as lawful aud necessary they will con
stute real opposition whose services to the country
may be very valuable But to any influence, they
must fret satsy the public that they really seek the
patriotic ends that DO, though by different means.
That ia tie characteristic Of constitutional opposition
the characteristic of ac.icn that it tries to defeat the
ends by every means whatever even the destruction OF the
Government itself"
And the New York Evening Post, which treats
of the same subject urges the opposition to speak
out fearlessly and honestly. 1t says
"The American people understand very well thai tenn
perste and ygant opposition is necessary to secure vgo
and purity to popular Government. We engaged in
great civil war and it every citizens duty to take some
part in public afairs
1t will be seen that these are just and sensible
views with regard to the duties of patriotic and
independent citizens who love their country more
Office OF out of Office. On this subject we are sure
that all our readers will concur with the following
judicious observations of the New York CONNER
cial Advertiser in treating this same topic, 1t
says:
while desirable and even essential that an opposi
ton party should exist it s very unfortunate that much
of the legitimate criticism Of the Administration and Con-
should be imputed faction and that the gross
and unseemy epithets of political should be flung
at those who have coed grounds of hostility to certain
legislative and administrative acts aud who solicitous
that the Government shall act in accordance with right
and in harmony with the principles which alone give
true strength and glory to a uation
1t sworth nothing that the prominent organs Of the
Administration in this city have been prompt to condemn
arbitrary acts of the civil military authorities and that
vain useless mad legislation which has been too COM
in Congress. The party papers here have in many
instances risen above party rebukng the abuses OF those
power and defining with clearness and force the ima
ons of Executive power and the range of personal liberty
which belongs to the citizen in the stormy days in which
live. The arrest and punishment Of Vaandgham, the
arbitrary disposition of Congress toward Alexander II
Long for words spoken in debate the Arguees case, the
proceedings agsnst certain newspapers have received as
bold and earnest denuncaton 10 the Republican press
the Democratic The difference in the temper of the
treatment has been marked, howeyertbe latter often
transcendDg the limits Of authorized ornecessary criticism,
and becoming simply factous. They have also pushed
the argument and distorted the acs to extremity toe
rated only in the heat of election On the
other hand, in the same heated canvass the Republican
press have overlooked ourages similar TO those they have
formerly rebuked and have the esble glmmer of
single Democratic journal extnguhed in Maryland, end
the voters OF Tennessee forced TO test which true
could take5wthout word Of remembrance.
These the pecuiarites of party conduct and
exhibit the dishonesty of partisan action most completely
They show that party sdherents will apologize for party
when party most needs IT, and they indicate the uty Of
opposition only existing within the ranks Of party and
the necessity of really live opposition from without They
prove also the paramount value of justice and honesty on
s Sides and the desirablene of public discussions mark
ed by good temper, and sound Judgment and animated
by vital principle The methods adopted in these discus
have shown that words Of abuse aud terms Of
tumey rise easy to the lips, flow gbly from the pen and
take the place Of argument. Many more moved
the dread of unpopular epthe than by the convic
ons that press upon them when they calmly estimate the
motive and results of political action which they in their
hearts deprecae, and which alas with their tongues
they acquiesce"
If it is the duty of an opposition party to wage
factious warfare against the Administration, it
is equally the duty of such opposition to abstain
from the cold distraction" of sullen and inert
neutrality. And if such political indferentism
is at all times unseemly in Republic, it becomes
hardly less than treason when great issues are at
stake, calling for the viglaut activity and the hon.
est counsel of all true patriots, who should hold
themselves ever ready to give a reason for the
faith that is in them, and to labor for the
of those views and policies which they believe to
be identified with the welfare or safety Of the
country. We give in another part Of our paper
to-day letter from well-known citizen Of Hi
nois, who belongs to the "opposition," but who
none the less recognises the fact that such oppo.
stion has positive duty to perform in the present
crisis, and who contributes practical suggestion
in the hope that it may be fruitful of benefcent
consequences to the whole country. The present