The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-11-08
Tyrsnny ef Party.


Inc ooSton Uaiiy Aovertssef. commenting on
Mr.. Beecher's recent political action, says:
"when Mr.. Bsschsr's Cleveland letter ap-
peared, it was understood BY its general tenor
that the writer opposed Congress and desired to
be enrolled among the friends Of the President.
Then came the letter 10 Piymoath Church, and
here Mr.. Beecher expressly declared that be
occupied position midway between the Prssi-
dent and Congvess. thas hs wsuld not become
partisan, and that he would adhsre to his opiu-
ions. On Monday eveaine. Mr.. Bssellsr deliv-
ersd IN elaborate sddro0 e The Drooklyn
Academy Of Asaic. hstees . hzGs Assembly, Of
his fellow -ci.'aens. asd haFs - advocaasa shs
and emphatically that be rsosivsd The hearty
indorssment Of even ths editor Of ths Indspsn
dent who spoke after him.
And the World appends the charactsr;s,ic
argument "Here 10 Mr.. Beschsr ooc.nv;ng
three different positions in - many MA
This is fair ilustrasion Of the style q criticism
applied nowadays BY political Journalists TO pub
nc men. Not word = 70 the principles which
Mr.. Beecher maintains; not syllable q to
whether he is right o. wssae in his judgment
of public aifairs; which party o. Action doss be
belong to is the only question asked. II he
with the President or With CongressY That's
the question. and thu oaly qusssSon, which any
body thinks it worth whils 70 raise.
Nor is he allowed to have any opinions Of his
own WHICH uo nOS 1&tOo Win ono or the other
Of these contending hctioas Either the Presi.
dent must be wholly and entirely right. or ut.
terly and Intentionally wrong; either Conersss
must be supported or denounced, without quail
hcation, modification, or rsssrvstioa Of any sort.
or else the unlucky man who ventures 10 form
aud express an opiaisn on the subject i set
down as being on both sides, - holding two or
three opinions. oi ~ vacillaling from one side 10
the other, from some dishonest and disgracefal
motive-prohably besaoss hs 10 ~rsbsl At
heart" or else because b. is in pursuit Of .breaa
and butter" ;
All this is inexp, essibly narrow and intoler
ant, and when applisd = such man ~ Mr..
Beecher it is insulting and arrogant. Mr.
Bescher is quite IS capable Of forming an opin-
ion on political topics. worthy Of respect Is the
grog shop politicians whe oTXAnias party move
mcnts and lay down the law Of party sction for
ohedient journalists and whippersin.
His opinions are quite a. likely TO be disinter-
ssted As those Of the writers in the World; aud
his right to form and utter them would seem to
be quite as clear and unmistakable. But unless
he echoes the catch words o. qarty-usless he
repeats parrot-like, its creeds aud deelaratiops
Of faith-unless he sxalts its supporters, and
villifies and deneunccs all who hesitate At any
OF its enormities, he is himself branded ~ .
traitor, and held up TO general sscosn and con
tempt. We are not in the least surprised ~
this in the World, but we look for better things
in the Boston Daily Advertiser.
A party which can tolerate no Independence
Of opinion, can not long maintain its ascsndency.
Certainly party which can not permit . man
like Nr. Beecher to express his opinions on
public affairs. without binding himself to
rigid and infexible adhesion to some special
party, or faction, or man, does not deserve
success which it would certainly degrade and
abuse.-(New York Times.