The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-29
THE RISE AND FALL OF PARTIES.

narties is essential to the wise and safe adm
nistration Of free governments. Ii one part
is not in power the other must be, and thes
recurrent mutations are salutary in efiec. !:
they correct. the errors that may have bee
committed through interest, ignorance or de
sign.
The early history Of parties-in this conntr
will show that when at the zenith Of thei
glory and the acme Of their supremacy, thel
downfall has been greatest and their detea
most overwhelming Flattercd by success
arrogant through prosperity, dictatoria
through power and reveling in tancied security
against all danger OF reverses they have moved
on step by step, acquiring lie" strength, as
suming more authority and becoming more
reckless and more defiant until the fatal no
ment arrives when the burden Of their power
and the weight of their corruption bring down,
with q terrible fall, the Whole political fabric
they have constructed, destroying both edIfce
and builders.
Within the recollection of the present gen
Grafton both the Democratic and Republican
parties furnish notable instances Of the cor
rectness of this theory Of political economy
and Of the inevitable fate Of all dynasties tina;
outlive their day of usefulness, Or become
unbearable from their unworthiness, their cor
ruption or their imbecillty.
The Administration of President Buchanan
found the Democratic party in firm possession
of the National and a large majority Of the
State Governments. 1t had routed so fire.
quently and SO disastrously its powerful Wing
opponent that that parry became demoralized
and dsnembered. 1t split off into fragments
and drifted into factions. Upon its ruin was
built the Known othing and the Republican
parties. Against these divided forces the De-
mocracy had no difficulty in maintaining their
supremacy and in adding to their strength by
constan: accession of proselytes and de-
serters from the conquered enemy.
Democracy was supreme. 1t reigned every
where. No one disputed is sway or its au-
thorty. 1t was, in fact, the only party in the
country that could claim for itself national
organization, and it was the only party that
. could be held responsible for the adminis'ra-
ton of the Government.
From this lofty pinnacle Of fame and power
it looked down upon its scattered foes and,
like Alexander, thirsted for more victories,
more glory, more power. But just then, the
seeds of internal discOrd, which had been
planted as the party was advancing and in
creasirg in greatness, began to take root and
terminate. A short time developed the scri-
Gus nature Of the existing dissensions, and
soon the country witnessed the disgracetul
scene Of political brothers, who had hitherto
dwelt together in harmony and amity, now ar
rayed against each other with all the bitter
ness ana hostility that ever attend family
teuds
The struggle for power, tie desire for
Office and the rivalry for leadership rent asun-
der the bonds that held together the grandes.
political party the. world ever saw In the
contest, principle was abandoned, conse-
quences ignored and the good Of the country
forgotten. Madness and folly seemed to have
taken possession Of those who once were all
intelligence and discretion. Thus, through
the Vaccinations of desist ing demagogues
whose personal interests We're of greater i'm
port than the general welfare OF the people,
the united, influential and all-powerfu
Democracy became suddenly converted into
demoralized and disgraceful horde of petty
squabbers. From that moment the work of
dissolution began and continued until it
eventuated in the complete overthrow of the
Democratic party by the election of President
Lincol In and the subsequent secession of the
Southern States.
Then sprang into existence, full of yigor and
life, like Minerva from the brain of Jupiter, the
Republican party OF to-day. 1t grew apace
with time and soon supplantod its former in
yincible rival. 1t rapidly aggregated tie
ma!contonts and dissatisfied elements of all
political organizations until there was left but
the mere Pigment of an opposition.
In time the Government, with its power, Its
patronage and its prestige, all fell into the |
hands of the Republican party in which the
States rapidly fell into line and ranged them
selves under its victorious banner.
Thus, it acquired in few brief months,
and without struggle scarcely what cost the /
democracy long years 81 toll, perseverance, !
and careful management to accomplish.
Neither the justice Of its cause, nor its inher-
ent strength contributed anything to it's sue
cess in the fight against the Democracy; but
the spirit of discord that was rampant in our
party, and the depth Of corruption to which
it had fallen, had SO far destroyed is integ |
rity It's unity, and its strength as to make it
az easy prey for the Republican monster.
Then began the history of Radicalism, and
then was inaugurated new era in the polti-
cal history OF the country. The broad and |
liberal platform Of the Democratic party COM
mended itself to the favor and support of all
foreign citizens, who recognized in it spirit |
o: just hoerality, in according to them the
right Of suffrage andall the privileges of native
American citizens. The acquisition of so ina
portant an element gave additional STRENGTH