The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-21
The Partisan.

Why should anybody write against the
partisan, seeing that he is as inevitable az
any other character in society, and began
his existence about the time CAIN Killed
ABEL and the worst passions were
LIT loose upon the world Well, we
cannot say except that it is healthy
to withhold favor from vice or evil
pursuits just for the good of society
Notwithstanding these things cannot be
eradicated, the breaks at least may be put
upon them so "a to prevent too rapid de-
scent along the easy way to ruin.
The main cause of trouble and division
in politico-socal life is desire for Office.
Men look at the field, and they discover
that if officers are to be selected from the
great bulk OF mankind the individual
chances are poor indeed; and furthermore,
that these chances are diminished still fur
Their if merit and capacity are the tests
for selection. So, first let us, say they,
make an issue and draw line. Thus we
shall make it certain that only one OF the
two divisions will have the Offices, and I'M
der the excitement and furore Of partisan
strife those poor devils who have no capa-
city may get Offices in virtue OF the noisy
and busting support they give to their side.
They are willing to take the chances OF vic
tory or defeat. If they triumph they gain
all; if they are beaten they lose nothing ;
because such persons are generally the
least meritorious, and save upon claims of
partisan services could stand little chance
Of elevation to Office and Government pap.
The two sides in the war for Office after
the battle is lost and won are we'll de-
scribed by that most veracious and revered
writer upon natural history and moral
philosophy, Mother GOOSE, in her story o.
the interesting little family of pigs. "Thi'
little pig had bread and BUTTER" says she
land this little pig had none" There
il. The partisan on the winning side ha
his bread and butter; he on the losing sid
has none! And yet, like the pigs, they ar
in the same family; and the discontente,
poor creature who has neither bread no
butter is il full view of his brother VIII
is feasting. No wonder that there is strif
between these two, and no wonder that tn
non-bread- -buttered one should swea
m oath ian irou-clad), and register it, too
to fight it out ON this line, and get breat
and butter or die in the last ditch. This j
the high moral principle that "makes am
bition virtue in politics.
But this little pig with his "bread ane
butter" happy for the time in what HI
Inns and his ignorance Of the future-likt
the politician, is destined soon to be Olsen
chanted Of his bright dreams. Pigs, like
politicians, have their vicissitudes. and gen.
orally get well scaldcd before they know it
After short time of feastins they may &c
long time near starving the while, unless
some one chooses to fatten them for the
purpose of eating theml So may our par,
tisan be kept in Office by those who desire
to make him stepping-stone for their owl
advancement, and after they are salts
fed they generally kick down the ladder.
The profound mcra!ist, MOTHER GOOSE
gives us q graphic view of the vicissitude
Of the partisan in her touching story O.
MOTHER HUBBARD and her dog:
"Old Mother Hubbard
Went to her cupboard
To get her poor dog bone;
When she got there
The cupboard Was bare;
60 the poor dog had none"
Now, the partisan has reverse. Ths
elections have gone against him, ard he
has not even bone to pick. The kind old
dame who sympathises with him goes off to
ses whist she can do: "
sshe went to the baker's
TO ast him some bread.
And when she Ea:ne back.
abe found be MAS dead"
This plainly means that bread Was out OF
the question With defeated office-holder
Death before work for bread, and 70 be