The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1869-11-27
For the ADVOCATE.
A POLITICAL REVIE w.

ent is the time of their usefulness and ac
ton. Their future is the name they estab
lsh in history for good or evil and thei
memory is cherished or repudiated in ac
cordauce with the measure of their useful
ness or injury to the great common inter
ests of mankind.
Fl ence it is apparent that political parties
liz Republic are only the exponents of the
sentiment and will of the people, at a
particular time and for special object, as
they may be divided in their interests and
desires, and swerved by common party
unity under those whom for the time they
constitute leaders.
The history of all parties in this country
illustrates this fact from the days of the
revolution to the present.
The early Wing party OF 1776 was
organized for the purpose of revolution
The Federal republican aud Democratic
republican parties that followed the accom-
plishment of separation from the mother
country, were organizations for determining
the character of the institutions that should
follow the displacement of the power of
England.
The Democratic and Federal divisions of
parties that existed during and for some
time after the second war with England
from 1872 to 1915, represented the differ.
.ent interests and views entertained by the
people upon the questions of policy and
duty that arose at that period, and their
probable results.
Andrew jackson headed the party that
made wal upon monopoly, and the contest
was mainly III reference 10 National mon
led institution, with concentrated power
sufficient to coutrol, for good or evil, the
finances Of the Nation, called a United
States Bank, while Messrs. Adams, CLAW,
Webster, and Seward headed the opposing
contestants of that great conflict under the
various titles of party according to crcum-
stances and locality as then operated to
determine the name of the organizations,
viz: National republican in the South aud
West, Anti Masonic in New York and Yer
mont and Whig in other Eastern and North.
ern States. All of which finally eliminated
in that Of tie Whig Party, and under which,
the National Bank, Sub-Trcasrry and
fariil were variously asitated and deter
mined the administrations of Van Buren,,
Harrison, Tyler, Polk, Taylor, Fillmore, aud
on and To the period of contest between the
lus and Outs that characterized the conflict
between the candidates of both the Demo
ctatic party and the Wing, when General
Scott and Franklin Pierce were their bear.
ers, and when each party despoilcd itself OF
all the difference of principle, and fell down
and worshipped at the then common shrine
Of political a0Oery, caring not whether it
was "voted up or down." if it only brought
them power.
During all of this period that is from
Jackson to Pierce-the party claiming the
maine of Democratic had maizly been in the
ascendant, and many of the questions, both
State and National had been settled and |
established in accordance with tLeir policy.
Hence the name became popular and was
adhered to, for it's potency while the defeat.
ed parties changed Or assumed new names,
ard such as represented in some degree the
subjects of controversy.
A period, however, was reached when
old issues would serve no longer for party
covers, aid new questions must be met
Hence, meu came ont from both of the old |
parties and stood aloof, or acted only parti-
TALLY or incidently until new organization
could be formed and planted on a platform
corresponding with the great principles of
our free institutions laid down by "the
fathers" and on which all loyal to freedom,
as against Slavery could stand, when the
two interests, must Of anecessity, come in
conflict,
Thus the Free soil party of IS47-S was
formed OF both Wing aud Democrat, and
there stood facing common enemy, and
ultimately eliminated in the present Ma
tional Republican party that wrssted the
Unsuitable clutch Of the Slave power, brought
back the nation to her original intent with
obstacles cleared from her path that gives
us now in Jdct as we'll as name, a republican
system as broad as the area of the Union.
In all these conflicts men and parties
have served a purpose and filed sphere
of usefulness, not alone the successful
but each has aided in the development of