Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-20
PARTY NAMES AsD OGGANIzA-
TIONS

VI lits country WHO nOlu COnScfNdilNS pun
teal views, and whose present wise and
able conduct, Though the learning and
intellect Of GALES and SEAToE no longer
preside over its columns, gives it an extern
sive and deserved influence among the sup
porters of the Constitution and the Union,
has recently published several articles III
regard to the organization and naming of the
party which at present supports the-Presi-
dent, and adheres as the groundwork Of its
political faith, to the Constitution, and the
teachings Of the sages who framed, and the
great WORTHLESS Of a later period who have
illustrated its principles. 1t has also several
able correspondents who have written forci-
bic and ingenious papers advocating the
propriety Of such an organization, and the
early adoption of name descriptive Of the
principles held, and applicable to the OBJ
jects in view. The hteliigencer, as well as
its commentators upon this subject, have
not yet developed the details, nor
do they seem to agree in the selec-
ton Of a NAME though they lay great
stress upon the latter. They concur in
thinking that 'Whig" is obsolete and mex
pressive-that " Republican" is defled by
the recent and present prostitution of it by
the Radicals and evolutionists-that Dem
ocrat' has served a sufficient use, and would
be too suggestive of States-rights and the
evils which are held to have had their or
igin in that doctrine. They have discussed
Constitutional" but exceptions to this may
be found in the number of its syllables and
It's lack Of smoothness and euphony, and for
the better reason also, that such title would
seem to assume that all who are not of the
party 50 designated are opposed to the Con-
stitution. Union" has also been proposed
but that is liable to like objection, and has
already been made the catchword and cloak
ofso much duplicity and rascality, that it
would damn any party that might adopt it,
NO matter how pure and patriotic it should
prove itself to be. Upon the whole, the
matter Of naming the party is difficult
business, and one, we think, not likely to be
satisfactorily accomplished.
Being of the party whose organization and
nomenclature is the subject of inquiry, we
will take the liberty of saying that
such a discussion is premature, if not
unadvisable at any time. 1t has been
often said, but truly, that parties in
popular Government are necessary and
proper-that the rivalry in maintaining
their creeds serves to prevent the long prev
alence Of errors, and restrain the abuses
which one is likely to be guilty Of if it were
able to enjoy unlimited power or to escape
the watchfulness and criticisms of its oppo-
nents. II might be added with equal truth,
that parties in a Government like ours, are
inevitable--that the conflict of opinion on
matters of principle as well as expediency
which is certain to exist where many minds
are directed to one subject, will as certainly
give rise TO organizations looking to the sue
cessful assertion of views which may be held
by those who may happen to coincide We
take it that parties, IN the proper and useful
sense, arise spontaneously and naturally, and
that when thus formed, the necessary cohe-
rency and concert of action among those who
compose them will develop itself, and do so
successfully, if the creed they avow be true
and just, and such as to command popular
approval. The organization, except that
subordinate part which is mainly always the
work of candidates, and which ALWAYS finds
plenty Of hands to do it, perfects itself; and
a party which is deficient in these elements
the principles and elementary truths of a
sound political economy, aud measures for
the wise and safe application of them to the
management of the affairs of State,
will find all merely artificial attempts
at organization futile. We consequent
ly distrust schemes for the construction
of parties. So made, they are short-lived,
and as apt as otherwise to meet their early
fate from the corruption which attends them
in their very inception. It's the true policy
to allow the great conservative sentiment of
this country which the course of events
is silently but surely evolving, if this people
be not given over TO that madness which
precedes perdition, TO continue the work of
accretion. 1t will, in due time form around
itself the party which is to succeed to all the
good which has been in all the parties Of
this country since the " era of good feeling"
under Mr. MONROE. Any attempts to man
age and direct this movement to what might
appear TO be partizan uses, will weaken its
moral power, and tend 10 thwart the great
object of overthrowing the extremism which
now misrules the nation.
This view concerning what is called " or
ganization," applies with equal force TO
names. Names are indeed things, and have
their influence. But we think this coming
party will most properly furnish its own
name. A trivial incident may suggest ii,
but the rarely erring mother-wit of the
people will secure its adoption, though
perhaps rigid criticism Iaay be tempted
TO reject it. or at least regard it
as Inappropriate The historical par
ty titles of wing and tory in Great
Britain have not much significance in them
selves, but they have endured and Outlived
more artistically constructed and accurate
ly descriptive names, and they were the re
suit of circumstances occurring in the move
ments of men and opinions at the time, and
not of deliberate selection. The name
should be an outgrowth Of the leading senti-
timent orprinciple party whenit is fully
and before the canvass Of popular
Judgment. Thus acquired, it will be more |
likely to possess all that is desirable in
expression, and point, than
II college of linguists and commit
tee Of political seers were to combine their
labors in concocting one.
Let the leaders of conservative opinion
educate the popular mind up to the standard
Of patriotic duty required to extricate the ma
lion from the troubles which have succeeded |
The war, and the tolls which the destructive |
and revolutionary party, now unhappily in the |
ascendant, are laying; and endeavor 10 re-
nculcate the maNims of political wisdom
which were the corner stones Of the faith Of 4
our ancestors, and party fully-iormed will |
I Il