Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-08-01
from the y. Y. independent
The Spirit of Parties.
BY HoN HENRY WILSON.

When it is remembered that there are
substantially but two parties in the ma
ton, can it be doubted where will be
found those most in sympathy with true
progress and reform; The manifest
sympathy if not completely Of the dem
ocratic party with treason aud traitors
in 1860, its denunciation Of the war As
"a failure in 1864. its endorsement Of
the Broadhead letter ia 1868. its persis-
tent opposition to the civil rights bill
and the Knklux legislation of 1872.
teach lesson it is difficult to misappre-
bend. Can men who have chung TO the
fortunes Of such a party during histo-
~ so slightly loyal and 80 little creGita-
bic become reliable recruits for the pro
posed party Of progress. for this prom
ised or threatened army Of reform
Can they have much heart for the IT.
forms they pirate about, or conscience
about their political duties and Affections
who are so easily persuaded 10 Join hands
with men Of such TecOrds The dictates
Of the most ordinary common sense. a.
we'll as the sagacitv Of the highest states
manship. utter their united protests
against this reckless use Of the right OF
suffrage. 1t cannot be too strongly i'm
pressed upon the minds Of all that the
ballot is a sacred boon, not a mere gilt
tering bauble: that to vote is the social
obligation, and not merely personal
perquisite Of American citizenship: and
that never perhaps. more than now were
weightier results involved In its exercise.
The facts are that there is neither
room. material or demand for the pro
posed new party. The necessary condi-
tons are wanting. With the exception
of a very incOnsiderable fraction. the
great body Of American voters are sat
isficd with their existing party relations.
and range themselves with one or the
other Of the two great national parties:
both of which are numerically strong,
both are determined TO win, and neither
is without hope of success. These are
the great and fixed facts of the com
ing campaign, and 10 amount Of talk and
buster personal continuance or party
finesse can make them essentially differ
ent. No side issues. however adrOitly
conceived or elOquenly presented; no
acrobatic performance Of leaders or
change Of names no number Of cOnven-
tiOns. large or small, of men enthusiast
tic or otherwise. either in earnest for re
form. or as the E6eaiHg Post expresses
II. 1.-The root of whose zeal is imbedded
deeplv in defeated desire for Office and
ottcial patronage" will divert any con-
siderable amount of popular attention
ard support from the one or the other Of
these clearly defined and recognized
modes and lines of political action.
Parties. like all organic bodies have
their laws Of being-of birth, growth
and decay. They are not the creatures
Of want or caprice Cor mere personal am
bitiOn and impulse. Though there is
too much reason for Dean Swift's def
milton that party IS the madness of the
many for the gain of the few" men
generally form their party connections
from some real or supposed public poll
cv. Though leaders. under the pressure
OF personal motives, may falter and fail,
the rank and file. without such pressure,
viii hesitate if they do notrefuse TO fol
low. Mr.. Eallandigham may propose
to democrats a new departure :" Mr..
Hendricks may counsel turning their
backs ION the past" policy may die
tate going out Of their ranks for candi-
dates. and perhaps the adoptionof a new
name and rev platform: but by no
such manipulation can the party be met
amOrphOSed. Cincinnati went TO Balti-
more. not Baltimore to Cincinnati The
democratic party Is essentially the same
today it was before il executed the IN
Daralleled feat Of indOrsing principles il
has always opposed. and of selecting as
a leader one who has signaliZed himself
as one Of its most pronounced and nm
compromising foes. The days Of mirac-
ulous conversions are passed, and none
who do not wish TO be deceived can be-
lievc that that strange performance was
ANYTHING but a trick Of political ledger
demain. the desperate venture Of leaders
resolved at any hazard To clutch again
the rcins Of power. Shall they succeed?
Not without help from the republicans.
Can any honest supporter Of the repub-
lican party render that help:
Grant that the democratic platform
adopted cmbOdies republican principles
and that the London Times was iusifi
in the assertion that the difference be
tween theplatforms Of Philadelphia and
Cincinnati (Bow Balt;mOre) Is micro
scope does irnof makca difference who
adopts then. ! the distinction be-
twrpn profession and practice TO be IL
no-rds Shall the party which has
...auria'od arl Acted nHr -ha-e UTinci-
pics receive no more consideration and
confidence than tj1n party which Las al
way opposed tleso. which has on IFS
PLATFORM and in it- ranks Lnnareds Of
-hou-ands uf UnreH.r'aU' r.bals. and
su Nl. $50 sl3 lor, Il i~ ,G.ire'r sp.Hdent
for ,urcr-~.
C,ant rha' She ~.F"'.ean na-ty is not
4 church. and that ra t.- rr.usl.r- are