The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-06-26
CD,,;l.LI[...u.aNfBTlk, D;l.I[...u S. &.
j, Sunday Morning, June 2e, 1870.
A New Party.

~ Sunday Morning, June 28. 1870.
"A N.w Party.
Wehear much of late, says tho savan-
nah Rspu6lioan, OF the formation of q
new party. Upon that subject. under
the above heading. we fnd the following
in the New York Times, one OF the ablest
radical journals in the Union:
A disposition is continually being
manifested in various quarters to attempt
the formntion of new political organiza-
tions; ostensibly in the interest of some
new scheme of reform, but really-as is
invariably discovered upon slight inves-
tigation-to subverve personal ambition.
It is q favorite delusion with many that
great parties can be formed like clubs,
or similar social organizations, and that
it is only necessary to set up central
figures and s'platform," and that fol-
lowers will eagerly rally around them.
Long experience has shown this to be q
great fallaoy. Deliberate efforts in that
direction are pretty sue to miscarry,
provided there is not broad and suffi-
ciently important policy behind them
and even then a strong organization is
secured with the greatest difficulty"
These are some of the obstacles in the
way of forming new political party,
even when the necessities of the country
require it. It is the gradual work of
years, and comes not 80 much from auy
special effort in that behalf, MS from the
natural falling together Of people who
agrea in principle and policy. Parties
form themselves upon the principle of
assimilation. The idea of going dolibo-
rately to work at this day to get one up
to take part in the next Presidential
election, is the sheerest folly. It must
be fought out by the existing political
organizations. They represent the exist
ing policy and antagonistic opinions; the
lines are distinctly drawn, and the peo-
pie of the United States must settle
down on one or the other.
We speak, of course, only of national
parties. A most extraordinary concur
renee OF events has disturbed the regn-
lar order of things in some of the South
ern, States, and rendered independent
local Organizations absolutely essential.
as measures of self-protoction. We
wonld not be understood as condemning
these; to the contrary, they meet our
hearty approval, and, we think, if wisely
managed, they can be controlled to great
public good. In 1872, when the great
national struggle shall come off, these
local parties must, for the time being, at
least, become merged in one or the other
Of the great national organizations, ac-
cording as they may assimilate in senti-
ment and policy. But this is q matter
for future consideration, and will come
up at its own proper time.
AS regards the necessity for new
party, 80 far as the opposition to radi-
calism is concerned, we confess our ina
bility to see it. So far rs we know,
while the national Democratic party may
not 60 as far as some people in the South
would desire, it is very certain that it
holds no principles and sets forth no
policy that every conservative man in
the nation may not consistently sub
scribe to. They advocate not one
measure that the old Wings ever opposed
at any time in the history of their or
ganization, and certainly sensible men
and patriots will not allow themselves to
be thrown into the opposition by mere
name. Democrats are as much to-day
the champions of old Wing and State
Rights principles as the Wings ever
were. and hence no partition wall should
exist between them. The issues that
formerly divided the two parties have
long since ceased to exist, and while tho
Democratic party has preserved its name
and organization through oil vicissitudes,
it to-day is the representative of no
principle or policy on which the two
parties would not have stood together
twenty years ago. It is now fighting the