American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-03-29
Sound Sentiments.


The National htelligencer, in noticin
Tue TACT OF Gen. Burnside's nomination f.
Governor Of Rhode Island as bv .oo,,
inauon OF the people of that State. hail
we nomination as "a promise of bette
.n'ngs In politics. when the people exbib
" spontaneous feeling to act for them
serves 1t continues by saying tba
"na' is wanted now above all things. tc
o'eak down the rule of the star cbambe,
caoal IN Congress, is expressions of the
people, regardless Of old issues and old
parties That expression should take
form IN popular meetings irrespective of
party, and no more by caucuses and con.
VenlIons to carry out their will than can
well be avoided. Caucuses are peneranv
under the control, as they are in tho in
terest OF persons who are deeply intent
upon the spoils that will come if their
party machine runs in the old ruts, Lot
the people move without respec, to party
Let them put men in nomination whom,
all honor for their ability, capacity and
experienced fitness for public position.
Cast to the winds the petty politicians
who only subsist by packing little ward
or township caucuses which, in turn. as
rule IN late years, pack county, congress.
ional and State conventions. These Iat-
ter make nominations upon that principle
OF compensation, which keeps the truly
great men that are in every county of The
land in the background, and exaIts mere
traders in poli'ics-petty people-to ex>
a'ted positions, in which, as at present,
IN are &c 10 Datten d Jeassne e Southern
people whole shoals of their 'e,!u' 81 =
Office holders, is the supreme desire.
rather than TO act upon the feelings t
which made Union and rebel soldiers fra.
ternize upon fields Of gore"
These are sound sentiments, which we
commend to the approval of the people. i
Mere party, for the sake Of party, never y
yet accomplished any thing but evil to
the country, in the elevation Of men to ,,
stations Of influence, who, without the q
machinery of party, could not have at. Il
tanned them. When great questions are
ehgrossing and dividing the popular
mind, 1t is not inconsistent with the u
Purest patriotism that men who think y,
alike upon these questions should &C, TO
gether for their promotion, as a party.
Bnt the party should dissolve with the hi
settlement Of the questions which created u
1t. To continue it longer, is to make =.
mere party the S, URGE from which is de- 90
rived the opinions Of the people upon new tn
luesllons-rather than from their own wi
honest and patriotic jud ments. It is to i'll
make party the master rather than the SO
creature Of popular sentiment-substi. "
uing the cunning of party leaders for
he intelligent observation of public affairs
y enllghtenedcltzens. Thus organized, Sa!
is very hot bed Of demagoguism, and wa
'ecomes, not an excitant 10 the mind of '"'
be country, but a source from which a.,
m"na'e he most grCvel'ing appeals 10 er.
he passions and Prejudjces of the people Its
republican government can exist only BY thr
ne continual eXertcn Of the intelligence of lem
he people. Whenever party has so out. \
'ed the purpose of its creation, that it TO-.
An subsist only by ignoring the inrelIi the
ence of the people and appealing to their eoa
assions and prejudices, its existence is a que
lrse, and ought to be terminated. t ,sg