The Van Buren press., 1869-09-28
A Few Words to Critics.
from Little Rock Gazette, !,

III ieieiehce 10 the policy and
principles to be observed by the Demo
cratic party under usurpat;ons which
have entirely changed our constitution
OF government or have questioned our
consistency. More than year ago we
TOOK the position we now occupy. Since
then 1t has been sustained with striking
unanimity by many of the soundest demo
cratic papers in the Union, North and
south There is such a striking coinci-
dencc in the views thus advocated by US,
with those which, lave been taken by such
able and eloquent organs in opposition
to Rasicalism as the Richmond Enquirer
Baltimore Statesman, Nashville Union
Gad american, Detroit Free Press, and
other Northern presses Galveston News,
Mississippi Clarion and Memphis appeal
not to include the Memphis Aralonche,
which seems to have oyerleaped itself, but
for our appreciation of the fact that so
plain proposition must have declared
itself to every sensible thinker on the
subject, we should have been ready to ex-
claim: Surely these accomplished writ
ers have actually been reading the AR
KANsAw GAZETTE" r.,
We omitted to include the Louisville
Coarier-JournaI in the foregoing mention
for the reason that we shall ask it to
speak for itself So much better than
We can does it cover the grounds OF our
position. Our readers will readily recog-
Mise its views as those MenticdHy Whteh
acc have repeatedly, if not SO clearly and
elegantly cndeayored to impress upon
them.
There are people in this world who
cannot be made to understand the home
| y truism that circumstances alter cases.
In yday life in politics, III religion,
they pride themselves upon rigid adhe
renee to some standard Of excellence
which they have set up in their own
minds, without much regard to fitness,
and no regard at all to the wear and tear
OF events. With them consistency has
little to do with results, but belongs
chiefly, if not solely, TO methods and de
tails. If they decide it best to eat beef
to day they will die before they cat NUT
ton tomorrow If they wear coat of a
certain color through one season they
consider it treason to change it for coat
of another color the next season. Ap-
pearances, not genuine truth, is their cue
Sound, not sense, is their call They
make no allowance for the action of time
They do not see that the world moves.
They plant themselves in one spot, and
that to them is paradise. They catch
hold of one theory; and that to them elm
braces the wholephilosophy of existence.
x * Il
Tie South-to give very familiar
llustration-wont into war with one very
distinct and strictly defined notion Of
State sovereignty before its mind and in
its heart How long did that stand be-
fore the practical necessities of the con-
hict? 1t did not stand at all it did not
prevent the adoption Of the most strin-
gent measures for the preservation of the
government In the Confederate Con-
gress parties divided on those measures,
and the men who stSod for the old princi-
pie Of State Rights, such as Mr.. Iancey
and Mr. Wigfall, were regarded by many
as impracticablc and by some as unsound,
whilst Brown, of Georgia, who resisted
outright, was pretty generally considered
a traitor. The times had changed, 1t
was essential that conscription should
be had, no matter whether it intertered or
not with the reserved powers Of the
States it was necessary that there should
be IN act of impressment; it was neccs-
sary that the President should have au-
thorty to maintain the existence of the
fabric, and from that moment the theories
Of 1861 passed out Of practice and into
oblivion.
Unfortunately the forces Of govern
ment represent q duo, instead of that
trinity which is found in nature, and
which would be much better in politics.
Properly speaking, there can be but two
parties. Third parties are always abor-
tivc Conservatism. as it is called, falls
between the upper and neither mill-stones
of proscriptiye radicalism. 1t is seldom
necessary to form new parties. 1t Is
rarely necessary to discuss new combina-
tions. The chaaging Of party names Is
alwayS a desperate erpedieW That which
the leaders of parties must consider as ei
the highest import is the operation OF
events.
At present the transition through
which we are passing IS not II transition
which requires that the democratic party
should form any combinations that do not
naturally form themselves, or that it shall
change its name or its purposes. Hold
ing fast to its general principles, it must
cut itself loose from obsolete issues and
apply itself to the cxigencics that rise
around about us every day. 1t will thus
be prepared to receive and consolidate
the various elements in the North and in
the South, which are now moving toward
it but are not yet ready to become an ac-
tual part Of it.
We have taken The trouble to throw
out these hints because there are those
who are so stupid as to imagine that
free and frank discussion of parties, and
particularly any practical realization OF
the state OF public opinion and the prog.
ress of events, implies some abatement
of party duty. We have never been able