Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-08-20
Parties and CUndjd0teS.

I'UIftGS ana (NVNiNUttSs
In politics the people of the United
States have for many years been divided
into the two present parties. The line
between these is and always has been
sharply and clearly drawn. No man of
intelligence can mistake the leading
and distinctive principles Of those par
ties, nor the spirit that animates them.
Both profess love for the Constitution
of the country as starting point in their
creeds. Both profess to uphold it. But
with one the Constitution has been held
superior to its objects, while with the
other it has been interpreted in the
light of its objects, which are, the per-
petual preservation of the Union, and
the security of all citizens in their indi-
vidual and collective rights. One party
has seen in the Constitution only an OBJ
ject of veneration to be wOrshipcd as
political heirloom, but having very lit
tie active power; not more indeed than
sufficient to preserve it, with the aud OF
continued common consent, as the char
ter of our government; and not enough
to preserve the Union against the desire
of a considerable party for its dissolution.
The other party has protested faith in
progress under the Constitution, and be-
lieved that the design of the makers of
that instrument, and the general design
of our form ofgovernment was to confer
actual freedom, and make this country
- totnl1, III nnrant
from oppression.
The results of these different beliefs
have been made manifest to the coun-
try. Under the influence of one, scces-
sion was encouraged and plausibility
given to doctrines and acts which would
make the Constitution useless. Under
the influence of the other, the Union
has been defended and the Constitution
preserved with its meaning cnergised (;
and the cause of liberty and political
the house fits protested friends, become
mighty power in the house of its real
defenders.
Now the cause of progress could not
have prospered without the aid of
friends. Those of its friends who, at
last seeing the tendency of false conser-
vatism, left party to embrace Il vital
principle, are worthy of all honor. 1t
might, of course, be expected that those
whom they left in the rotten ship named
Democracy, would pursue them with
malice and all Observation-Disclosures but ii
could not be fairly expected that those
to whom they brought energetic and
unhesitating support would pursue them
in similar spirit. Yet we sometimes
find this to be the case. Without seek
ing to defend all the acts of such man
as Benjamin f. Butler we may say this
much for the man, who has performed
eminent service for the Union cause
that the abuse which is heaped upon
him has its origin in the fact that unit
the war and the hour of our peril came
he was Democrat. There are narrow
minded men in the party he helped, tC
to preserve the country, who cannon
forgive him that. Nor is this a silitary
instance. We can trace such ungratefu
y
q supporter of that Democracy which
excused the rebellion which voted the
war a failure, though the Union cannon
of Gettysburg Numbered back the lie
which sustained by resolutions an'
speeches, and the power of its able press
the usurpations of Andrew johnson
against the patriotic services of Con
gress which sustains now a candidate
for the second Office in the gift of tn
people who openly counsels Executive
usurpation and war; a supporter of suc'
Democracy, who is still finn in ad
herence to his party, as he was al
through the war, was sent from Frank
lin County, last year, to the State Senat
of Republican Vermont, by Republican
votes while man who LEI
that party before the consum
nation of its shame, and will
time and money and intelligentzeal AM
energy, aided the cause of the uniol
was left behind, at the bidding of mel
whose cause he had faithfully served