The Portland daily press., 1870-09-21
THE PRESS.
Wednesday Morning, September 81, 1871



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A short Sermon 10 Political Fossils.
81 am ready for revolution" exclaimed a |
prominent politician not long aso,-"the time
has come for reorganization of parties."-
ghis gentleman had just been placed on the
retired list, after longer lease of political
lille than he was entitled to by reason of his
ability, or the briancy of his public services.
Hopeless of further official preferment as
member of existing political organizations, he
imagines that he has only to associate other
old public functionaries with himself, to inau-
gurate revolution that shall not only sweep
the State, but extend to all parts of the country,
placing him and its other promoters once
more in influential and remuneratiye posi-
lions.
Office holding is pretty sure to make men,
whatever the original constitution of their
minds, members Of the lite Barnacle family
and it by any chance their claims to place and
power are ignored, they take it as sure sign
that the times are out of joint" and that the
breaking up of the great political deep is at
hand. 1t is true that Diocle:ian resigned the
Roman and Charles Fifth the German En-
pire voluntarily, and that our good Vice Pres
dent now at the height of his popularity, de-
clines at this early day denomination. But
the political fossils of this State who ale
"ready for revolution" are not men of like
spirit. They not only are unwilling to re-
tire, but they desire to compel their fellow cit
liens to retain their services. Therefore they
may find it not Improbable to give heed to
the following weghty considerations:
First, The sel6shness of your motives in
wishing to see the dominant party broken up
Is SO palpable to the most casual observer
that your proceedings are not likely to be at
tended with any considerable degree of popu-
lar enthusiasm. The exact coincidence in
point of time between your retirement from
public life and your discovery of the made
quacy of existing parties as means for giving
expression and effect to the popular will is a
circumstance which no one can overlook and
which everyone must regard as conclusive
against the sincerity Of your conduct. Nor is
it possible to diminish the conspicuousness of
this awkward fact by earnest but hypocritical
protestatons Of honesty and of sincere de-
sire to be Of service to the people. All such
efforts will only confirm your hearers in the
opinion that you are one of that quite numer-
GUS class that scruple not, like the worthless
mentioned in Hudibras,
ITO cheat with holiness and zeal
All parties and the cOmm0nweal,"
Second The first impulse to the move
ment that breaks up parties generally comes
from the people, and not from the politicians
whether they are or are not honored with the
public confidence. In the last national Wing
convention the politicians utterly ignored the
people, and renewed their allegiance to slav-
cry and shareholders. Thereupon, at the first
practicable opportunity, new party was
formed having for its basis the idea which Law
nearest the popular heat. The Republican
party has not yet been betrayed in this man
ner by its leaders. If the resolutions adopted
at Republican conventions are referred to it
will be seen that in those. formal declarations
of political faith there is that progressive and
liberal spirit still eyinced that brought to the
ranks of the party at the beginning of its Won
derful career almost all the warm hearts and
active brains of the nation-that made Re-
publicans of almost all the patriots, states
men, philanthropists, scholars and poets of
the land. So long as the principles of the
Republican party are such as to satisfy the re-
quirements of the popular element above in
dicated, do you suppose that the malice of a
few obsolete politicians can interrupt its pro-
gress?
Third, Though single reformatory work
my have been nearly accomplished by the Re-
publican party-though almost everything de-
sirable relating to slavery and its consequences
may have been achieved, lit is absurd to sup
pose that reorganization of parties is neces
sary on that account. Here, as in England
and France, the people naturally divide
themselves Unto two parties; liberal and
progressive party and a consecutive or reac
tionary party. When by any means the two
seem to become identical by the action OF
false leaders, as happened with refer
ence to the fold Wing and Democratic
parties, then a new party becomes
necessary. Under other circumstances
the old organizations are maintained. Wit
ness the Wing and Tory parties OF England.
For the last two hundred years the former
has been leading the latter, struggling and re
calcitrant, in forward progress toward all
sorts Of moral, social and political reforms
The subject matter of dispute has been
infinitely varied, but the relative DO
sition of the antagonists has been con.
slant. The Wing has lead, and the Tory has
kept his station in the rear, obstructive, pig
headed, aristocratic, a worshipper of tradi-
ton, a devotee of the past. Within the last
three years the opposing factions have dis
played their respective characteristics with
reference to the question of charging the
franchise, of the establishment of the
Irish church, and of the change in the tenure
of Irish lands. Yet it is not infrequently
said that slavery being abolished and the civil
and political rights Of all classes being Sc
cured, the mission of the Republican party
is ACCOMPLISHED! As if there were not hun
dreds of questions still in dispute with refer
ence to which the two existing parties are
sure to take their natural positions! No, no
Messrs. Fossils, not yet. When Republican
State or national convention discloses re-
dictionary tendencies, then you may look for
popular movement such as cannot have a
premature genesis from your INSCRIPTIONS
efforts.