Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-09-01
TEEE CURSE OF P.sRTI' SPIRIT.

The most stubborn obstacle which stands
in the way of reform, is blind party spirit,
and in it | see one Of the greatest dangers
which threaten the republic. 1t exercises
a moral tyranny, which not many can with
stand it has slenced many deep convic-
tion, and ii has stiiled many moral
power. Look mt its workings. There must
lie political parties. They must have or
ganization and a certain degree of disci-
pline TO carry great principles into effect,
and to accomplish great ends. The mem
Der of a party must know how to distn-
guish things of a secondary from things of
primary importance, and, to attain COM
mon ends of the first Importance, he must
subordinate himself in matters of less con-
sequence. But blind partisan spirit de-
mands more. 1t demands that we should
sacrifice our whole moral being TO the in
terest Of the party; that we should permit
every wrong and every abuse to pass with
out cenSure when its disclosure might en-
danger party interests that we should
even, under certain circumstances, forget
those higher ends for which the party was
originally organized, only in order to keep
the party in power-as, for il stance, parti-
san spirit demanded of us in Missouri that
we should rather not attain the true end of
the republican policy, peace, the protection
of equal rights, harmony, and fraternal
feeling because thereirom, the democrats
might derive an advantage. In one word,
blind party spirit demands that we should
60 with and for the will of the majority,
rogul ry expressed, through thick and
thin, and he who refuses to do that is
branded by blind party spirit simply as a
traitor. Let us see where that leads us.
DO you know how the ideal of well or
ganizcd and strictly disciplined party upon
this plan looks? You find it in that band
of robbers which for many years has
plundered the city of New York, and
whose misdeeds are now exposed to public
view in their whole hideousness. The pro-
gress of things was quito natural. The
democratic organization of New York was
perhaps, originally no worse than Others
its leaders were originally, perhaps, no
worse than Others, but that organization
had the great misfortune to possess a large
mass of wonderfully disciplined voters,
who, at the word Of command, blindly
went through thick and thin. Nothing
could be more perfect tlan their organiza-
ton and discipline, always sure of victory.
And had they put the devil himself upon
the regular ticket, the devil would have re-
ceiVed the whole regular vote. The consc-
qucucc was that the devil was put upon the
regular ticket, for the devil is sly, as the
old song says, and his disciples are always
ready for action, and understand how to
press forward whenever there is anything
to take. Where the masses of party are
SO well disciplined, and so faithful that
they can always be relied upon, to support
the party through thick and thin, Whatever
enormites may be committed there the
rascal has IA free and sure play, and borne
aoft by party discipline, he will inevitably
arrive at the head of affairs. Opportunity
makes thieves, and blind party discipline
will produce rascals, where originally
they were not | repeat, therefore. that the
thieves of Tammany in New York are the
very ideal of well disciplined party or
ganization in its highest state OF perfection,
and its fruits are just those which a partl-
san discipline so selfish, so perfect, and so
reliable must, in the long run, necessarily
produce. Very fortunately, the democratic
Tammany society of New York stands, so
far, proudly foremost in the perfection OF
its achievements. Party discipline has not
been developed in other places to that de-
gree of absolutism and yet here and there
we see, without distinction of political
creed, beginnings which promise much
The taxpayers of many a city can tell "A
tale about it, and it the honest republicans
of some southern states are not on their
guard, they will discover that the combi-
nation of numerous class of inc x perenced
and easily disciplined voters, and of greedy
adventurous is capable of producing wond-
ers. The union of the honest and law abb
ding elements of both parties, cannot be
effected too soon in that part of the country.
But II is not corruption in the gross form of
stealing alone, that is promoted by blind
party spirit. Strict party discipline under
mines moral feeling and conscentiousness
in much more subtle way. 1t commen-
ces to disguise or TO conceal the truth and
to deal in fiction according TO party inter
est, aud II requires not only love of truth.
| but it requires courage, it requires positive
| boldness, to withstand that command. for
those who resist are in danger of being
burnt alive as heretcs on the party altar.
l will say here, for the encouragement of
secret and more timid heretics, of whom
there are many, that have been already
burnt so frequently on that altar as to
know that 1t does not hurt, so soon as one
, becomes accustomed TO it.-Odrl Schurs.