The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-10-15
The Party OF the People.

There are two ways of administering |
government in behalf of the people-one,
the demagogue's way, by which the passion
of the hour is made supreme, and the 9TH
er, the way Of craftsmanship, by which |
the welfare and elevation of the people are
sought rather than their mere gratifca-
tion. In country such as ours, the nat
ural tendency of political parties is toward
the former. 1t requires no sacrifice of
present popularity. 1t leaves its devotees
glide along with the current, while the
advocates Of the other method are as men
moving against the tide.
The bane of popular government is this
strong tendency to defy popular passion
Especially in a country like our own,
where there is not simply recognition of
the people in point of fact, but where their
Will is the very basis of the governmental
structure, deifcation of that will as en-
bodied in blind passion is more than likely
to be accepted as the easiest, surest, and
quickest road to power The people,
that is, the mass of them, have good mo-
tives-that amiable quality with which
hell is said to be paved-but close discern
ment, nice discrimination, and sagacious
forethought, all experience proves are only
exceptionally theirs. They need, not
leaders simply, but teachers not politi-
clans, merely, but statesmen. Sometimes
events happen by which a generation is
schooled into wisdom. A war, financial
crisis, or an insurrectiOn often thus be-
comes only less than blessing, or may
prove even the salvation of land. The
revolution gave our fathers more wisdom
than they would have gained from the
Prccepts of as many generations as there
were years of that contest. So. in our
own day, the conflict with the rebellion
raised people and leaders up to views
which they either could not or would not
comprehend before. We emerged from
that bloody contest with people better
fitted for selfgovernment than when they
went into it. Yet, as is always the case
there arc some ounces in the class, some
who adorn the FOOLS cap though, out o
charity it should not be made to adorr
them. The Ounce in this case is the ole
Democratic one. 1t will stick to its mud
dleheadism, (if we may coin word.) i
is desirous again to get into power. Nol
is anything more natural than that j
should be so. But it blocks the only ave
nue. by which it can attain power. 1t wal
not content during the war to denounc
the follics and the blunders Of Lincoln
administration, but had To hobnob ar,
exchange winks with the rebels III arms
as though it could persuade the North t
do likewise. 1t was accustomed. prcyiou
to the rebellion, to playing upon the pre-
udiccs Of many citizens Of native and nearl
all of foreign birth by making appear d
hideous and disastrous the competition
the free white mans labor with that Of tn
free black man. 1t is now engaged in
similar trick or the Pacific coast. where
is exciting all the mean animosities Of OF
nature against the Cinnamon of Caliio
MIA. Knowing that cur government w;
framed that there might be the create
religious freedom, they urge against ii
California Cinnamon that they are II,
Christians. They oppose their becomin
citizens. and do not want them to hay