The Portland daily press., 1870-06-11
LII It PR ESS.
Saturday Morning, June !, 1870.
The Permauence of the Republican
Parfy.

The enemies Of the Republican party are
fond of pointing out the diversities of opinion
existing both among its leaders and in the
ranks as signs OF its impending dissolution
and ruin. To those who reflect more deeply
on the subject these diversities are token of
it's vitality and permanence Parry discipline
though an excellent thing within proper im-
its is sure to prove fatal when canied so far
as to extinguish individuality. Diversified
ton OF views is so necessary a law of all
healthfnl growth that complete uniformity of
opinion IN any Organization is a certain PROOF
that represslve measures are at work WHICH,
py crampng development, lay The foundations
OF premature decay. individuality Is an rs
sential condition of progress. The masses are
wisely cautious about adopting new views till
drawn to them by others more advanced in
whom they have confidence. To prevent IN
dividuals from taking advanced positions is
therefore to nip progress in the bud. Indi-
viduality becomes mischievous only when it
is not subordinated to the practical efficiency.
The history of the Democratic party shows
that something more than discipline is neces-
sary to maintain party ascendancy. For the
perfection of its discipline very few organiza-
tions have ever surpassed it. 1t rarely failed 10
command its full strength when the occasion
required, and if it suffered occasional defeat
its broken columns rallied in SUPPORT of the
cause with un1iagging zeal. But in the pride
Of Its power it carried the domination of the
organization over the individual too far and
broke into fragments in trying to make con-
solidation complete. The great guarantee
that the Republican party will be permanent
is found in the fact that it is not SO compact
IN Its formation as to repress Individuality
lts composition is sufficiently varied to en-
brace some conservatives who are needed to
resist hasty and crude innovations as well as
the radicals, who are needed to give its policy
progressiveness. 1t | as thus the means with
in itsAIs- H-,---r---o up tnose healthfnl antag-
onisms without which any party is in danger
of stagnation and decay.
Still it must aforementioned thai individual
ism should not be carried so far as to prevent
the party from being whole An organization
divided into discordant factions is as power
less for good as one in which no differences
exist. 1t requires rare judgment and moder-
alton in all concerned to combine diyersites
of opinion with practical harmony. But if
individuals are willing to concede something
to the views of others, those who do not think
entirely alike can act together, and the ne
cessities of their position will train them to
combine the virture of tolerance with the
equally important ones of earnestness and in
dependence. Where conflicting views exist
in regard to legislation, the views of all can
not be acted upon at the same time. Hence.
when the necessity for legislation is impera-
tive, those who find their efforts likely to pro-
duce no other effect than delay, should cheer
fully make up their minds to defer pressing
views till time shall enable them if in the
right to make it appear.