Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-03-13
RATES OF ADyERFIsiNG
From the Norfolk virginian. ]
THE NEW PARTY.

I
IN defence of a principle of religious faith, OF
political theory bnt when the bounds or
reason are transgressed, aud the rights Of
others invaded, then enthusiasm becomes de-
| based to fanaticism and that which was be- :
| fore noble, becomes, in its excess detesta-
| BILE. . .-;.-.ib a..
More especially is this true when, in pG-.
litical affairs, artful and selfish POLITICIANS,
! avail themselves of the misdirected zeal and
passion of the people to attain their own ends.
of personal ambition, or selGaggra ndizelnentJ4
They blend truth and falsehOoi, together Ia
curious mosaic, and proclaim the expulsion,
of the Irish Catholic or the destruction of
Southern Oligarchy with equal facility. The
same spirit which drove the Jews from Spain;
or with cruel icouoclastic fury deSPoiled the
cathedrals of England can be brought into
action in the nineteenth century, as. well as +
| in the days of Torquemada, or the rugged
despoilers of English churches. ,-. - = 81
With this madness of fanaticism there is
combined an appreciation of right and wrong
to certain extent-it is a madness with u
method in it. Monocular in its vision, it
sees but one object, aud does not notice how
many nice, social adjustments must be disafH,
ranged in its attainment. 1t is because of
the honesty of the masses Of men that, hav-
ing once fastened their regard on any one
object in religion or politics, they pursue,it'
~
this reason especially, thatthe masses become
such easy implements in the hands of selfish
leaders, who know how to use popular PassioGs
for the attainmeuts of their own ends. These
artful men state certain general principles
proper enough when isolated from other is
sues-admissible as abstract truths, but ims
practicable in social reform, and with the Gle-
| ment of truth derived from stich source, the
various ingredients Qf party faith hre flung
;I-oE al 4 -
into the cauldron by the witches in Macbeth.
To the impulses of false enthusiasm, the
party managers add the incentives of hope
and fear and no party, however virtpOpspr
depraved, haS ever been found able to COM,
mand hearing, much less to achieve results
without being provided with an organized9
form. When fanatical party has beeomee
powerful and disciplined enough to, be feltI
with certain weight in nation, it is in q %
position to introduc, the principle of fear
and it then begins to threaten those who re-
+ fuse to obey its commands and to controItheifo
action by fiery attacks, upon the lcastr asser4s
ton Of their O'cn opinions, in opposition to
the decrces of the party. ..... ..
This appeal to fear constitutes the last de-
velopmcnt of conscious power, and the re-
morseless severity with which oiIenscs aro
punished, enables party to sec-re q work
ing majority" as it is called, when very Of
ten the members of that majority are, in their
own hearts, opposed to the measures they
sustain. And hence it is a common occur
! renee to see corrupt measures supported, or
protiigate politicians occupying high places
contrary to the sense of the pcoplc-indecd,
this has been so frequently the case that
many calm and earnest advocates of ropubh-J
can government have had their faith in ito
practicability seriously shaken, if no: abso-
Atcly destroyed.
Y.i & -
constitution, We now see fanatical party en-
deavoring by fierce and revolutionary pro-
cecdings, to pervert government which pro-
iesses to be popular, to desPotIsm more abb
solute than that of Russia, because of less in
divIdual responsibility, if conducted accorde
ing to their theory. The contest is now be-
tween the sentiments and opinions of WASH
! ington and those Of the Gar Nicholas, em-
boGie1I on the one hand in the person of Mr..
johnson and the great new party of the coun-
try, and on the other in Stevens aud the prac-
tical disunionists, who are madly straining,.
| like so many blind Simpsons, at the pillars
| of the temple of Constitutional Liberty.
! There is no extravaganza in this Picture,
| The question of freedom for the slaves baY-,
| ing been settled, that of slavery for freedmen
| has been decided. We have to settle this
question Of national liberty on the Issues
now before the country, aud we clearly
| right in the belief that Mr.. Jphnsnn stands
at the head OF those who maintain the integ:
rity of the Constitution, and cherish some
reverence for the traditions of our fathers
We have not exaggerated the nature Of
the struggle, and we believe that the pcople
of the entire country appreciate its nature,---5
| lfa patriotic Executive, actuated, as he is,
by principles Of Republican purity opposed
as we know him TO be, to the extinction OF
local liberties of the country, as pitiIessIy as
that which tell upon King Lear disctoWued,
then we shall have hope of constitutional
liberty.
But, if Mr.. johnson should faif4IIifch
we do not fear-then the cyclone will leave
no vessigc of the cloud,clapped palaces of
political freedom which once sboDe with
such conspicuous splendor in the dreams Of
the American people. 2f51st
With every right at stake, and every na-
tional hope of the future, financial, CONNER
cial. and political prosperity Of the country
! involved, there is no room to doubt the power
| of The new party of the country TO avert
| from US the threatening calamity of still
| further perversion Of the form and spirit.Gf
| the Government. This fact is fully appre-
( ciated by the citizens of Portsmouth,, who,
dscardiDg old party afinities, have rallied
under the leadership of Mr. Watts to the
support Of Mr.. johnson, sfG Ti.t
-Four days after the rebels 6fed,ou Fort
Sumter, Of Mrs. Duncan, of Mecca,
Ohio, enlisted for the war. He joined a
: r.. n . /. -a.yar Ii