The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-11-03
PARTY SPIRIT ESSENTIAL TO GOOD
GOVERNMENT.

1t is customary with nations to have
some form of law, internal and ex
ternal, by which a nation or nations
may be governed. It's therefore nee
essary in this simple delineatiOn of the
subject, before US, to make ourseIve:
familiar with the significance Of gov.
ernment. Government, " in the word:
Of Alden, "has for its object the main.
tenanee Of justice among men. That
men may live together in peace, there
must be laws restraining them from
injustice, and protect them in the en-
ljOyment Of their rights. The Office OF
government is to make and execute
such laws" It seems evident, that IN
the wisdom Of the Almighty, this was
designed to be so; which can plainly
be seen as we advance into eiviIiza-
tion. Civil society cannot exist, it is
said, without good government. In
the beginning Of mans existence,
there was direct divine law given
unto him, in the garden Of Eden
Obedience to this law was imperative;
to violate it, was the downfall of
the human race. We have seen,
however, that law has a divine ORR
gin, and that it was to become a great
and powerful engine in the working
elements Of civil society and civil lib
erty.
There are many laws, but there
must be a source from which these
originate, determination from whence
fiOweth the living water of all waters.
Through the inspired Moses we re-
eeived a law for the direct spiritual
governmental man. From this there
has naturally arisen another law for
an indirect protection Of man against
his fellow being. This may properly
be styled a Constitution, the source
from which will branch other
laws for the immediate protection
against invasion OF malicious intru-
sion on his person or property. Ex-
perienee obviously shows US that some
men are disposed to do injustice to
others, and accordingly must be re-
strained by law from doing so. Were
there no laws our journey in this
sphere Of life would be a wretched
one.
The law then which is Designed to
be the base of our argument, is that
one which is held most dear and sac
red within every mans bosom who
is a lover Of liberty and justice among
men, and PROPAGATION Of literature
This has already been termed a Con-
stitutiOn, and for the correct interpe-
tation Of this there naturally arises a
variety Of opinions, which have ten
deney to ameliorate, orestablish, more
firmly the justice of law.
If it were not for this diversity Of
opinion, there are doubts whether to-
day we would have sure footing on
American soil. 1t is what enhances
literature, and secures to US liberty
and freedom. Thence party spirit
arises, people become animated, and
they will feel an interest in the COM
mon welfare Of the government
They will aequaint themselves with
regard to law, and secure the protec-
tion Of law as well as their own per-
son.
To make laws there are two import
ant things to be taken in cOnsidera-
tion, and which might well be said,
form the bases Of good government:
First, Ability, and second, Character.
Under Ability, are again various ele-
ments that might also be brought un-
der our observation: 1st, through what
source that ability was obtained %,
what were the motives securing it
A man might be well educated in
many respects, and yet not have the
power Of thought to make laws. Ex-
perienee, ,exemplified to all the people. |
shows that it depends greatly upon !
whether he labOred hard to have suf-
fieient in a financial view to educate |
himself, or whether assisted without |
physical labor. What the people |
have, and must have, should be thor
oughly understood by experience
Experience is the most complicated /
teacher. The motive must be pure,
man must bear in mind that he has
to deal with. His motive
should not be selfish, but pure and
stainless. 1t is not the peoples desire
to have any other man at the head Of
the government, but one who will Sc
cure for them justice, and the result
will be liberty.
A man might, under all probabili-
ty, be able to dictate to people and be
an Office holder whose character is
doubted, but it is generally supposed
that he will be able TO WELD much
power. The people observe his act
ions, and through party spirit every
qualification, whether good or bad,
will be discussed freely, and it gives
rise to seeking for the best material, /
in order to secure an end by either
party. The individual, who by this
mode secures an Office, knows that it is
highly important for him to observe
and impartially the desires
Of the people and his eompeers. II he
1Oes not, there is an opportunity for
dispute, and his race is run. "A
It is needless to recount history Of
The old and dried out centuries for
sufficient evidence to prove the in-
iallibility Of party spirit being essen
-ial to good government exists in the
century. Meanwhile, by
.aking a glance into the almost buried
past, we observe that while one na-
ion was apparently dormant, anOth- J
IT arose adjacent to il in magnificent 8
iplendor and majestic power. The ef-
'ect Of the former is incredible, while
he later is self-evident. England to-
lay feels her Indebtedness to the Pill
rim Fathers Of America, aDdh rev. !
'lutionist for the justice Of law to her /,
Iubjects. The dissension arose, the
thunder Of Patrick Henry
md his contemporaries seemed to toll
he funeral bell Of American subjuga-
ion to the English yoke OF tyranny.
The blow was decisive, but in the ]
midst Of her deep distress, and the !
oss Of her young ana promising :
America, there arose a spark Of light '
$ bright a. a star Of the first magni- u