The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-08-22
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PARTY
STRIFE,

The daily acts and events in the history OF
the individual are of significance and appre-
ciable force, only so far as they are parts OF
aim is all there is of him. His aim and his
character, are the reflex indicators OF each
other. 1t matters not what he has done Or
said to>day, or yesterday, or will do or say
Tomorrow the purpose of it all makes it of
any account. SOFT is of the strife of parties.
The daily press will accumulate facts or deal
out misrepresentation the stump speaker
will utter his logic, which may be other's
foolishness and the only question which the
good citizen need consider is, what is the end
of it all.
That eloquent Italian Radical, Mazzini, in
his recent able paper on THE Religious Side
OF the Italian Question:" puts in his terse,
epigrammatic style of philosophy Of politics
in few forcible propositions thus: ''The
true life of people must be sought in the
ruling idea or conception by which it is gov
erned and directed.
"The true idea of nation, implies the
ternal association and concentration Of all
the vital forces of the country towards the
realization of that aim.
"The national aim is indicated by the past
tradition, and confirmed by the present con-
science Of the country.
he national aim orce asceriained, it be-
comes the basis of the Sovereign power, and
the critera Of judgment with regard to the
act of the citizens.
Every act tending to promote the nation.
al aim is good. every act tending to depar>
ture from that aim, is evil
These are not merely 'glittering general
ties; they are expressions of philosophic
truths. 10 elaborate them as applied to our
people were entertaining labor in an essay or
magazine article, but out of place j. daily
newspaper. The uprising of our people fol-
lowing that attack upon Sumter, the steadi,
ness of lofty, loyal purpose, with which our
people resisted the effort to divide the Union;
the continued aud grand steadfastness with
which they have opposed Andrew johnson,
and demanded reconstruction policy which
shall better conserve Liberty Republicanism
and the Rights Of Man, have all been wonder.
full but legitimate manifestations of the one
grand aim which animates our people. e.,
to establish our Institutions, and develop our
country IN the spirit of genuine aud pro-
gressiye democracy, aud love Of Freedom.
This Is the tombstone of party propaganda
ism. Which party in Iowa and the nation,
to Gay, represents the nation true aim and
spiut2 The daily declamations, accusations,
arguments, speeches, leaders, dcfenses of
6aeh, are only induces, frequently iallacious
Of The party aim and spirit. Was the true
aim, the controlling purpose of this nation
represented by the rebels and their sympa.
thizins allies in the late war; As those reb
els, and their allies, have not changed their
spirit or their principles, do they represent
that aim aud purpose any better now2 Nay,
verify
There is no cause So bad that sopnistry
cannot ingeniously weave for it plausible ar
gnmeuts. There have been adroit defenses
of Pontius Plate and Judas Iscariot. The
Democracy have skillful apologists at work
IN Iowa, and throughout the country No
great party can preserve such spotlessness in
all OF its individual members, or even Office
holders, as to be above reproach that shall
IN some cases be just. The good citizen,
that has at heart the good OF his country.
will not pay the heed TO these frequently nd
cdptdndum matters, that he will to discover
the real spirit and aim of parties. This will
be shown by their record, by their principles,
their prospective policy. And that is the
party for the good citizen, whose spirit is
Loyalty, love Of Liberty, Of Human Rights,
of Republican progress, which has been true
to these In war and in peace: the party
whose continued supremacy will guarantee
the perfect development OF Freedom in this
land. That is the National Republican mar,
ty, which, in the North and South, so nearly
unanimously includes those true to the Gov
eminent in war and true to Liberty now.