New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-08-28
WHICH z

II is generally received truth, almost
automatic, that great political parties are
essentials of free government. No less
true is it that "a certain measure Of faith
in ideas, and Of fidelity to persons repre-
senting such ideas, IS a vital condition OF
such parties. For, a political party to de-
serve the name is not. a mob, sWayed
hither and thither by mad cries; led or
rather driven, from one point to another
by temporary and irresponsible masters; 1t
is a compact, homogeneous, wen-dls-
ciplined body; united by devotion to com
mon principles and participation IN pow
erful interests, and moving forward with
unfaltering steadiness, under acknowl-
edged chieftains, to fixed goal.
Such parties were the great wing and
tory parties in England, the revolutionary
party in France, the repeal party in Ire
land. the federaliSt, the old Wing and the
old Democratic parties, and lastly the
great Republican party in our own coun-
try. Such leaders were Hampden, Crom-
well before becoming possessed with the
mad ambition Of royalty, Walpole, Sir
Robert Peel, Mirabeau, Daniel O'Conell
Alexander Hamilton, Jefferson, Jackson,
Clay, Webster, Calhoun, and Lincoln
These men, and many others Of like stand
ing. whose names will readily occur to the
reader, notwithstanding the blunders
made by some, the faint Of selt-seeklng
degrading others, the infrmities insepara-
bic from humanity attaching to all, were yet
men who filed the eye Of their time; who
attracted and kept the regard Of masses OF
their fellow-men, inspiring confidence IN
their leadership which insured the ad-
herence Of numerous and powerful body.
Men merely selfish, whose only object
in adopting public life is to advance their
own interest; whose constant aim is to
make partisans for themselves in every
camp, regardless of every higher motive,
are incapable and unworthy Of forming
great parties, or of long maintaining their
leadership, should they become in any
manner possessed Of it.
In view of these admitted facts and prin-
ciples, what is the condition of our coun-
try in this regard to-day What that Of
our State Where are our great parties
bound together by great interests and
deeply-rooted convictions, advancing to-
ward some great definite end; where our
great leaders representing such cOnvic-
tons, and evincing the power to lead US
toward such end Is the Republican
party such; does it point toward future
aims, or is it living on its past; securing"
what it has gained? Parties, however, no
more than individuals, can live except by
daily bread; and political gratitude, to
which the Republican party looks for sup
port, may be seriously defined as personal
gratitude has been, satirically, "a lively
sense Of benefits to come. If not the Re
publican, is the Liberal party the great
organization whose struggles for national
ends are to maintain the life and freedom
Of the country. Has it set forth as its aim
objects great enough to touch the nations
ltdIJ anu IOu6C ILC lidt4OiI - SA4O+ 81
Which Of these parties presents the all-suf-
fcient leader under whose banner the
march Of national progress isto be carried
on?
These questions every man must an
swer for himself Many Will not feel pre-
pared to answer them at all. Many Will
feel that neither Of the above mentioned
parties is equal to the occasion: neither
of the leaders now in the field is the right
man; that naturally we are in a transition
state, the Republican party having ac-
conpGshed its mission, and the Liberal
not having fairly discovered any positive
one, but inviting support on negative
issue-anything to beat Grant
Such critical locke however, will
not feel disposed TO abdicate their rights
of citizenship, because, liking neither
party nor neither leader, but will most
likely take sides according to local issues,
narrowing their views for the nonce to the
interests at stake in their immediate
vicinity, and accepting as q national cam
didate either Grant or Greeley, according
as the success of either would affect the.
welfare Of the limited portion Of our
country which forms their native or
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