The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1867-02-28
W3sliingtOn's Birthday.

We cannot hold too sacred the day tina
gave birth to this great and good man
whose life and character IS a worthy ex>
ample for the rising generation. Our rul-
ers at the present juncture would do vel
to take up the life Of the Father of hi.
Country and study the wise councils con.
tanned IN his Official messages. &c. Las,
Friday was the l35.h anniversary Of his
birth. In looking over his .earewell al
dress, We are naturally reminded Of the
applicability O he following 70 the present
stae Of affairs n our unhappy country:
i have already irtima:ed . vou the
danger Of parties il IL State. with rar-
ticul9r reference % tie fouul;n. Of them
On geographical DETERMINATIONS. Lei ne
now take a more comprehensive view. and
warn you. II the most solemn manner.
against the banefUl effects Of tie spirit Of
PARTY generally.
This spirit, unfortunately, IS inseDara-
be from its nature. having IL root in TIE
strongest passions of the human mind
1t eE.stsunder different shapes. in all Gov,
ernments. more or less stided controlled.
or reprassed; butt those Of tie popular
sorm It i seen in It's greatest rankness. and
Is truly their worst enemy.
The alternate domination Of one faction
over another, sharpeaed BIZ the spirit Ct
revenge, natural to party discussion, which
IN different ages and countries, has per-
petrated the most horrid enormities. Is il
self friohtfdl ,potism. But this leads.
at length, to rmal and permanent
despotism. .orlers and miscrias
which result, ally incline the minds
Of men to seek security and repose in the
absolute power Of an Individual aud soon
or or later, the chief of some prerailine
faction. more able or more fortunate than
his competitors, turns this disposition to
the purposes Of his own elevation on the
ruins Of public liberty.
Without looking forward to an extrcmi-
ty of this kind, (Which, nevertheless, ought
not to be entirely out ofsieht.) the CON,
mon and continual mischiefs Of the spirit
OF party are sufficient to make it the in
terest and duty ola wise people to discour,
age and restrain it.
1t serves always to distract the public
eounsels, and cnfeeble the administration.
IL agltates the community with H. founded
Jealousies and false alarms klndles the
anlmositles OF enc part against another
ioments, occasionally, riot and instruction
1t opens the door to foreign influence and
corruption, which find a facilitated access
TO the Government itself, through the
channels of party passions. Thus the
policy and the will Of one country are sub
Jected to the policy and will of another.
There Is an opinion that parties, in free
countries, are useful checks upon the ad-
minlstration Of the Government. and serve
to Keep alive the spirit of liberty.
Ihl', within certain limits, is probably
true; and in Governments of a monarch.
zeal cast, patriotism may look with indus
gonce, if not with favor, upon the spirit of
party. But in those of the popular char
acter, in Governments purely elective, it
IS a spirit not to be encouraged. From
their natural tendency, it is certain there
will always be enough of hat spirit for ev-
cry salutary purpose. And there being
constant danger of excess. the effort ought
to be. by force Of public opinion, to miti>
gate and assuage it. A fire if not quench-
ed, demands a uniform vigilance to pre-
vent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead
OF warming, 1T should consume"