The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1872-11-22

that r~ .. asr.my li@hel, they die.
The t.c~s # government adopted in
the federal constitution necessarily
brought IL, existence i party in SYM
pathy with t..at theory, aud for its
defence and prrpetu4tioa. The Demo-
cratic party comnon.'ing with the days
of Thomas LETTERS N became the cham
pion of the theory Of that eminent
statesman, the defender Of constitution
al government and the advocate of
personal liberty to the citizen, and
-rvrvr-rggrrT- -tHc Vc0FIe: step BY
step it has rcceled from it's principles,
but tcnaciousIy chung to it's name and
organization.
The time was when Horatio Sey-
mour, Geo. II. pendIeton ard Charles
O'CJn r and their associates in the
democratic PARTY, and Sumner, Greeley
and S:hurz in the republican party,
were their respective leaders, because
they were the cxponcnts of the princi-
pies that were applicable to the politi-
cal parties as then organized. These
principles having become inapplicable
to the present condition Of the country
the influence of these men and their
measures with the people has retreated
with the ebbing tide.
The foremost reason of all this is,
that the democratic party has outlived
the ideas and principles on which it
was founded. 1t may be compared to
a tree in which the vital sap no longer
circulutcs, and whose bare branches can
never again be crowned with foliage
1t is no longer the exponent of IDEAS
which appeal to, and take a strong
hold upon public feeling. Its able men
belong rather to history than politics,
and until they identify themselves with
new and rising questions, and transfer
to fresh cJntrovcr in our political
economy and government something of
the boldncss and vigor by which they
first rose to influence and eminence,
they must be content to occupy their
present position and exclusion from the
councils ii state.
Neither men or parties in this for
getfll age, can live on their record
11' rrTrrs:r over the ut,t straw year after
year ~ mere waste of labor: only a
new harvest and its unthrashed sheavcs
can fur4;sl Il grist for the political
A..l. Iii" I'll republican leaders, as
wei. @s the ott democratic, are bower
les 1elorc TIL country, because the old
party issues are dead and can never
again be guaranteed into the semblance
vi life. The old pro-slavery and anti
slavery feeling of the country repre-
scented On the one side by Greeley,
&umuGr, and their associates, and on
the other b. Chas. O'Conor, the New
York Day Book aud the democratic
party, has had its day, and like game
that j. won can no longer interest
players or spectators. These men
represent principles it is true, but prin-
ciples that are antiquatel a living
reality is stronger before the people
than til elicte memory. In every po-
Utica. contest between the living issues
Of tie present and fading Renaissance
the living reality has won, and is pref
y sure to continue it's triumphs.
That u man has been all his life in
sympathy with the republican party
does not give him 4 monopoly of public
opinion and influence within it. He
must keep step with the moving throng
or be tramplod beneath the feet of the
advancing millions. An attempt to
renew tie conflict OF Andrew jackson
with the national banks, if persisted in
FIR single day, leaves the Quixotic
warrior s. far In the rear Of the march
Of public opiaion, that where the bat
Tic VI the present is progressing, the
fact that he has even an existence is
uakao@n.
The present demands rigid economy
in every department Of government
that the men who have robbed the
people IT their rights and sluandered
their substance under whatever form
or prcteSt lie declared outlaws in the
party Of tie present, and excluded
from place and power, whether carpet
baggers CT old and trusted leaders hold
ing Office and exercising its functions
among the friends of life time.
The financial interests of the pres
emf must be met in the spirit and light
Of the present without recurrence to
the exploded tho cries Of .Old bullion. ;"
The party in power must remedy the
evils Of the present and grant relief in
the adoption Of such measures as the
public eziseacies demand. The wise
man should lend his counsel and his
aapw-!t t. secure the attainment Of the
proper et.ds and aims Of government in
supporting the party that can secure
th'.se elects when right, and for its
correction when wrong.
lIa future will he as able tn take