The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-03-15

mat any party 0rgantzauoh seehins !" oo al
influencing If not ruling power in the State
should have for its basis system Of princi-
Piles large, important and well defined Is
truism which no one having any acquaintance
with the character OF party government VIII
for moment question. Nor is it less certain
that in proportion as these principles are the
offspring Of a sound and healthy morality so
is the party which is guided by them, and
which, by devotion and self-sacrifce, labors
for their final triumph, whether successful or
not, entitled to the gratitude Of their country
men and to the respect and admiration of
the world. The statesmen who founded the
American republic were noble examples Of
the qualifications to which we allude They
had policy, . sound, healthy, moral policy;
and it is not the least of their many titles to
the gratitude of posterity that they knew what
that policy was and nobly worked it out To
the impetus which by their characters they
gave to the infant republic we are indebted
for not little OF that success Of which we are
SO justly proud.
When al the Pittsburg Convention in 1854
the great republican organization took prac-
teal shape and declared that it had for its
object the extinction, within the limits Of the
Union, Of those twin relics of barbarism,
slavery and polygamy, it was felt by many
that there now existed party which was en-
titled to public confidence and which would
scarcely fail of success If its avowed princi-
pies were adhered to and its objects were
wisely and faithfully pursued. That party
has labored, but it has not labored in vain.
1t has spent its strength, but it has not spent
its strength for naught After much toll and
pain and sacrifice one Of the twin relics Of
barbarism has been removed; and 1t requires
but fixed determination to insure the imme-
diate removal Of the other Slavery is no
more, and there is power enough in the hands
morrow. The republican party has thus been
eminently successful, but 1t has been sue
cessful mainly because, ostensibly at least,
il has been guided by certain great princi-
pies. No one, in fact, looking impartially at
the two great political parties which have
to admit that failure or success has been de.
termined chiefly, ifno entirely, by the absence
or the presence of high moral purpose. The
democratic party fell because it had no such
purpose; the republican party rose and
triumphed because it had. The history
Of this republic, therefore, but repeats
and gives weight to the lesson otherwise
and elsewhere taught, that in free country
no party, unless identified with great moral
principles, can permanently hold the reins OF
government Whatever may be the faults O
the individual, the great public, rs a rule, IL
sound and healthy at the core, and in spite Of
occasional irregularities is always found in
the long run to beat responsive to truth. Il
may be led BY unwise and unprincipled rulers
for time, but it cannot and will not be led by
them always.
II is question not without persinence to the
present time whether the republican party ha.
not, in point Of fact, accomplished its mission.
Slavery is gone, and there Is no evidence Of
any immediate intention to interfere with the
peculiar institutions of Mormondom. A new
platform is manifestly necessary. We must
have fresh enunciation of principles VIVA,
itself as its objec. in the future? This is Q
question which many will think certain presen,
movements warrant them 70 put It will be on
unhappy thing for republicans themselves
whatever lis effect on the nation at large, /
success in their case be found to have pro
duced its too common result, and If in the hour
of their triumph they forget the means OF
abandon the principles by which that triumph
was won. Indications certainly are no, wanting
TO show that on some of them at least theil
principles hang somewhat loosely.
! What is meant, for example, by this Con
necticut nomination? Will the election of p
7. Barnum as Congressional representative
convince The world Of the continuance Of the
high-toned morality and lofty purpose of the
republican party What will man like Johr
Bright think OF the prospects OF party which
he has SO much idolized and held up 10 the
admiration of EngIishmen when he sees Il
STOPPING SO low and allying itself with mer
who glory in their shame? What Is there Of
heightened morality, what Of lofty purpose
what Of self sacrifice, in the story Of the mer
maid, in the story of Joice Heth and in the
story Of the woolly horse, even as they are
told by Barnum himselfs What is the moral Of
each OF these tales What but this that sue
cess in itself is juslifable, no matter how dis
graceful the means and how wretched the
imposture by which that success is wonf II
the republican party woald not lend q
helping hand 20 set up successful swindling
and decontion A ita atandard of ynhl;c
worth throughout this great, free, and hitherto
prosperous country, we bid II beware Of
such unholy alliances.