Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1868-06-25
PoLITrcAL PARTIES.

present political situation assumes that
q great party may be marched and coun-
termarched like an army, and that II
can change In q day Its professions, Its
habits, and its policy to secure what Is
called success. But such success Is by
the very conditions supposed not sue
cess of party doctrines and measures, but
merely the acquisition Of place and pat
ronage. II, for example, the leaders of
the Republican party had supposed that
the elections Of last year indicated a total
revolution Of public feeling, and had
therefore refused In their National Con-
vention to approve the reconstruction
policy of Congress, or to declare for equal
rights, or for the national honor, by pay
ing the debt according to the spirit as
well as the letter of the contract; had
then nominated Reverdy johnson for
President upon the ground that he had
advocated the emancipation amendmept
and had succeeded in electing him would
any body have besn so solemnly waggish
as to call It d Republican victory? What
is Republican victory but a triumph of
Republican principles at the polls? i,
SO of the Democratic party. IF 1t
should acquiesce In the Republican re-
construction; declare for the honest pay
ment of the debt as understood by the
national creditors; agree to universal suf-
frage, and elect Mr.. Chase because he
was opposed to the policy Of impeach-
ment, now would his election be DEM
ocratfc triumph? Those who voted what
would be called q Democratic ticket
would indeed haye control ofthe patron
age Of the Government, but at the price
! of the professions, and habits, and policy
of the party. To suppose such q result
| is to suppose such total want of convic-
tion, of consistency, and ofpolitical hon.
or i'm the party leaders and followers as
! to expose them to universal contempt.
1t Is oftena rhetorical convenience to
compare party 10 an army, but 1t is q
very deceptive comparison. Political
parties have their origin in human ma
ture. Men are naturally Tories and
Liberals, as they are naturally hopeful
and generous, or skeptical and SELFISH
Imagination and temperament have
/ their part lii determining our political
| affinities, as they have in all human re-
| in religion and in science. A party is
not merely body of men arbitrarily or
ganized to oppose another body, and
constantly changing Its position to Sc
cure an advantage. 1t is the growth of
natural tendencies, and applies to vary
ing social, industrial, or political ques-
tions the same unvarying general prin-
ciples. Thus modern political history is
the story of one contest under thousand
forms; the struggle between popular
pewer and that tOfindividuals and classes.
With ever century its aspect is very diff.
ferent, but the struggle is always cyl
dent. hng I-tt. sl.e u
Tn this country there had always been
n Tory and Liberal party. The Tory.
Ilsm and LiberaIism have revealed them.
selves of course. according to the issues
of the time. Within the last generation
the eovershadewing issue has been The
aunremacv of he slave nower. Tpnorance
nassion l1aterialism OF every Kind. al]
The baser feelings and aims of the country
not without exceptions--were naturnlly
united in the support of that supremacv.
and the party name by which its adyo.
struggle althourh. prolonged nnd nower
IN, and bloodv' ui,successfui. Slavery
WAS abolished. 'and the party prestige
tlisappeared. But I, party which tradi
tionatIy attracts the ignorant class of tht
nopulntion Is necessarily immencc. an(
Is peculiarly susceptible of admirabl,
discipline aI d orga}s sization, Intelligenc,
begeis Independence.
Now the sentiment Of hostility to equa
: rights, The prejudice OF race, the Jealous,
of free education, indifference to tru
national honor, ali the meaner tenden
cics, passions and influences, still re
attached to the Democratic party.
the leaders of that party can persuade IL
Convention not to express these teDden
cies and sympathies, and to nominate
candidate who Is politically identities
with opposition to them, the result wi
inevitably be either that the sincere TC
ries, the feactionaries, tue repudiators