Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-11-28
The Drift of Popular Sentiment.

extracts from leading journals Of both political
parties, in different parts of the country, indi-
cative of the growing sentiment in favor of a
union or fusion of all the elements of conserva-
tive opposition to the continuance of radical
rule. We have given these extracts as ''straws
to show the direction of the wind and be-
cause there can be no more certain means of
gauging correctly the state of the political ba-
rometer. To ourselves, we confess that the
gard to the duty and position Of the democratic
party with reference to the next presidential
election, is one of the most favorable symptoms
of the time. The necessity for a national re-
form party, for national conservative party,
and for a national constitutional party, is be-
ginning to be widely felt and freely acknowl-
edged outside of the democratic ranks. The
revenue reformers and the civil service reform
ers, like the municipal reformers Of New York
city, are Of no particular party, or rather they
belong alike to both parties. Leading Repub-
licans have been found as outspoken and deci-
ded IN their opposition to schemes of San Do
mingo annexation, to the suspension Of the
writ of habeas corpus, to Ku-Klux legislation
and disqualification laws, and to all the abuses
and corruptions Of carpet-bag government at
the South, as democrats. Upon all these ques-
tons the conservative sentiment of the country
has manifested itself without regard to existing
political associations or party ties. But to ac-
complish any practical result it is clear that
something more than similarity of sentiment or
sympathy of feeling is required There must
be unity and concert of action as we'll The &C
tive cooperation of all the conservative men
in the country-of all who are in favor of re-
turn to the true principles and limits of consti-
tutional government and Interpretation, and of
a general reform in ADMINISTRATORS required,
if those objects are to be anything more than
speculation merely, and before there can be
any hope of their realization. How this CO.
operation is to be brought about, or in what
way this union or fusion of forces is to be ef-
fected, is the next problem to be solved. The
discussion which is now going on, and which is
participated in by many Of the ablest journals
in the country, has for its aim the solution of
this problem. OF course good many different
opinions are advanced and variety of discor-
dant plans suggested. There are those who IA
vor what is called 1.-THE passive policy Of ma
king no separate democratic nomination for the
presidency, and trusting to the chances of di-
vision in the republican ranks, and the nomina-
ton OF candidate by the moderate as well as
the radical or extreme wing of that party
There are others who oppose any surrender or
abandonment either of the democratic organi-
cation or of democratic principles, but who ad
vocate the nomination of such candidate up
on such platform as would be acceptable to
conservative men of both parties, and whom
moderate republicans, disguised with the ex-
traVagance of their own extremists, would find
no difficulty in supporting.
What is the best and wisest course, under all
the circumstances of the case, to be pursued,
is no easy matter a p1aori to determine. Pc
lltlcal parties cannot be made r.
temporized met - W order, or eX-
49,. 20 meet an emergency. They
grow, and as they are wanted and when they
are wanted and not before. They are formed
by the natural accretion of elements possessing
the requisite affinity. Just SO, in like manner,
parties disappear and dissolve when they have
run their course, and there is no longer any
thing to hold them together. They have their
natural period of growth and Of decline, and
these conditions of their existence cannot be
arbitrarily or capriciously anticipated or dis
pensed with. They cannot be unmade any
more than made at pleasure. A great party
cannot be blOtted out Of existence and made to
disappear from the political arena simply by
wishing or resolving that it shall be SO. In 9th
er words, the problem is one which will most
probably solve ITSELF IF the time is ripe fol-
the formation of new party or the disappear
ance of an old one, or for that old one to take
upon it new form of growth and expansion,
and to enter upon new phase in its career.
we need not disturb ourselves about the event
which will assuredy happen according to the
working Of the general law we have indicated
and which, in the political history Of our owl
country, has been verified and illustrated in thu
successive rise Of the old republican and feder
al parties, the wing, the democratic, and sec
ond republican party having nothing in com
mon with its predecessor but the name.
At the same time it must be conceded thai
the earnest discussion of the question as tt
what shall be done, and how the conservative
strength Of the country shall be brought out
and developed and arrayed as unit on the
side of constitutional government and Of polit
cal honesty and reform, is rendering a mos
valuable service. 1t cannot fail to lead to
broader and juster comprehension of the neces
sites of the political situation, and to the re.
moval Of many of the barriers created by pref
udice and misapprehenson which have hereto
fore kept men Of the same way Of thinking
from cooperating and acting together. In this
way discussion will prepare the way for union
and out OF it will grow and shape themselves
the real issues in the coming contest which vii
be the true dividing line of parties. 1t is the
agitation of subject of the greatest moment
to the whole country, and not, therefore, to be
contemptucusy treated or lightly or hastily dis
posed of.
The rate of taxation just fixed upon in Phil
adelphla for the next year, is 1926 upon each
hundred dollars worth of property or q per
cent. In New York city the tax is So q on
each hundred dollars worth of property.
1t is stated, upon reliable authority. that a
laruer amoupt of conouoa~oa &c bro-oLA4 NJ