The union Democrat., 1870-07-16

be said of zeal, 'sAh zeal how many crimes
have been perpetrated in thy name. But
we care very little about bigotry in its pas
sive sense. that is as resting quietly in the
bosom of its possessor. rather wish to
speak of it in its active sense. that is as 1t
affects others BY its manifestations; and since
language affords US phrase, by which to de-
signate it, when so acting. namely, political
intolerance. / will therefore speak OF 1t un-
der the heading of
| POLITICAL INTOLERANCE.
The worst kind of intolerance is that,
which would use coercive means to bring
those, who differ with it. to the same line of
of experience. It appl Is, that mankind has
at last been convinced that coercion is about
the worst argument that can be used, and is
only to be had recourse to, when the actual
existence of society or government demands
it. Popular opinion will not tolerate it un-
der any other circumstances, and conse-
uuently the laws Of our coutry do not permit
| it, as weapon in the hands cf either reli-
gion or politics. Thanks to the freedom of
our institutions, we can write, talk, and act
too as we please, as long as we do not endan-
ger the safety of socie. Blu. there is pri-
vate political intolerance, which manifests
itself in various ways beyond the reach of
the law. 1t is to be seen exhibiting itself
in the social and business relations. It es-
tranges neighbors, and causes A to cease Wis
iting B, or to pass by without salutiDg
him again G will pass by the store of d, be-
cause d does not happen to sail in the same
political boat with himself. You know that
this is not as it should be. Were it on ac-
count of religious differences of opinions that
these acts were done, the doers would be
despised and deridel by the community. But
because it is on account of political diferen-
ces, the doers are held up as apostles of their
particular poiiticel creed their zeal fnrsooth
is pointed at as q model to the indifferent,
and they are pronounced the elders of the
party fail indeed to see the laudableness
of political over religious intolerance. be-
leve that man can differ as honestly with
me in politics as in religious matters, and
think the same liberalty that is extended
in the one case should also be given in the
other. think our great American public
are gradually awakening to this fact. The
press is generally good index of public SEN
timent; notice that the acrimonv existing
some years ago upon political matters be-
tween the press of the different parties is al
most extinct to-day. In fact an exclusive
party press is gradually going out of exist
encc. The public do not seem inclined to
sustain it. 1t will not do to laud indiscrir1-
inately the actions of ons side and condemn
those of the other The public are begin
ming to perceive that parties are good deal
like the individuals of whom they are COM
posed. They don't always do right or do they
always do wrong, and therefore are not con-
stantly to be condemned. I.think the time
| is fast approaching, when an avowedly party
press will have entirely disappeared, and
when the division lines too between the par
ties will have become very indistinct. Not
but that individuals will have their different
opinions, and espouse them warmly also. hut
| mean the time is fast approaching when
men will not consider their
MARRIAGE TO POLITICAL PARTIES INDIssoLuBLE.
| The idea that men must continue to swal-
low the successive platforms and convention
doings of the party, with which they first
voted is an absurdity. As far as platforms
are concerned-as far as principles are con-
cerned-partes must change every election.
Their names may indeed remain the same,
but their substance is generally entirely
changed. Why, tho affairs of our County
should come to standstill that the principles
|
not new issues be involved at every election
And as fact. hsve not new issues been in
volved at every election? Is it not not then
absurd to say, that because l agreed with
you at one election, and belonged to the same
organization, must either continue in that
organization, or be branded as renegade. when
perhaps an entirely new issue is at stake?
WHY MEN DO NOT CHANGE orTENER.
know. gentlemen, that there is preju-
dice against the man, who changes his poll
tical PARTY. Men seldom move in this world
except through interested motives, and there
fore such change is generally ascribed to
those motives it then requires a little moral
courage to meet the public odium attached tc
such q change, and this every man though
he may have good judgment does not always
possess. 1t will require few bold spirits to
make change a little more popular-and
think before have concluded, you will agree
with me in considering it ought to be little
more popu!ar-to break down this prejudice,
to remove this odium, and then to leave peo-
pie free to act. To cry out boastfully have
been Democrat or | have been a Republican,
or Whig my whole life, seems to me to be
Just about as absurd. in one that has been
any time citizen, rs for a man to have the
1
his inexperienced youth. Iknow that thisisa a
most unmerciful stroke to some of those ''cld
liners, lin whose caps this boasts the biggest
feather, but, as Artemus Ward would say.
so much the worse for the feather it must
come down before the power of truth. / do
not think that it would require great deal
of acuteness to show that the individual, who
has continued for the last ten years endors-
j ing in full the platforms of any one party,
was guilty of lending contenance to contra
dictory doctrires. This of course is not the
consequences Of a want of perception in the
individual, but rather of want of attention.
There are too many individuals amongst us
of that free and easy nature, who never
trouble themselves much about the doctrines
of their party but are content to sail listlessly
along the stream in the boat they first board
ed.
HOW PLATFORMS ARE MANUFACTURED.
4 Platforms are not deserving of respect con-
sidering how they are manufactured. What
is the sole aim in view in the making up of a
platform? Why, so TO shape it as not to be
too positive upon anything. but to allow a
/ IL, e1f u G.