The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-25

held antagonistic opinions on both these sub
jects.
The two parties continued to bear these
names until the era Of good feeling under the
second term of Monroe's administration, when
the Federal party expired. During the ad-
ministration of John Quincy Adams, his op-
ponents, under the lead of Van Buren and
Jackson, assumed the name of Democrats or
Democratic Republicans, the latter being the
favorite designation in New York; while their
antagonists called themselves National Repub-
licans, their conspicuous chiefs being Clay,
Adams, and Webster. During this period, a
third party arose, called Anti -Masons, whose
founders and leaders were Thurlow Weed,
Tbaddeus Stevens, and William III. Seward.
This party exerted good deal of influence in
moulding the politics of New York and Penn
sylvania, but on national issues it was in close
accord with the party of Clay and Webster.
Under the administration of jackson the
materials of which parties were composed
changed very essentially. Large numbers of
old Federalists went over to jackson, while
respectable body of Democrats rallied around
Clay Near the close of Jacksons admins
tration the party of Clay and Webster was
made up of the mass of the old Federalists,
now called National Republicans, and the
rank and file of the Anti-Masons. Scarcely
had Van Buren pronounced his inaugural
address when the opposition to the Demo-
cracy assumed the name of Wings. General
James Watson Webb, of the Courier and I'm
quire1, claimed the honor of bestowing upon
that great and powerful organization the
popular cognomen which it bore through
eighteen eventful years.
Soon after the formation of the Wing party
the slavery question began to assume promi-
nence in national affairs, and resulted in 1910
in organizing the LibertyIparty, which, though
small in numbers inculcated doctrines that
ultimately controlled the country, and, as the
fruits of long controversy and successful
war; incorporated into the Constitution those
amendments respecting slavery, the rights of
citizens, and the universally of suffrage,
which have so radically changed that instru-
ment. Among the founders and leaders of
this party were James G.. Birney, Gerrit
Smith, Joshua Leavitt, John G.. Whittier, and
Henry b. Stanton. From the same root
sprang first the Free Soil party of 1874, in
which Salmon p. Chase and John p. Hale
were distinguished and then the Free De-
mocracy of 1S4S, with its famous Buffalo
| platform, whereof those eminent Barnburners,
John Van Buren, Samuel j. Tilden, Sanford
| E. Church, and Dean Richmond were the
main architects-Martin Van Buren,, better
| known as the Sage of Lindenwald, being the
| chief cornerstone. This celebrated organiza-
ton swept into its ranks all the Liberty party,
all the Free Soil party, majority of the De-
mocratic party of the State of New York, and
large number of prominent Democrats and
respectable sprinkling of Wings throughout
| the free States.
| This remarkable party, though it did not
dwell among men for a great while, lived
long enough to prepare the way for the ad-
vent of the Republican party. Under the
inspiring lead of John Van Buren, it was the
precursor of the new political dispensation
of 1915, when the free-soil principles of the
Buffalo platform furnished the materials fol
the erection of the great political organiza
ton which for the past ten years has ruled the
| country.
These historical reminiscencos show tina
the Democracy have been more tenacious o
their name than their opponents. But Mr.
Lincoln used to insist that though the De
mocratic party had saved its name, the Re
publicans had stolen away its cardinal prin
ciples, and that the latter were now the onl
orthodox disciples of Jefferson. However
Mr.. Lincoln is no more, and it will be wei
for the party that gave him power and pres
tige to take heed lest it also soon pass int
history, and be known among living men n
more.