The Russellville Democrat., 1875-04-08
THE CONFLICT.

on in the country. It is great, not only on account of the num- bers engaged, but also, and more especially, on account of the mag nitudc of the issues at stake
 The conflict to-day going on is q conflict of parties-great political parties, who are engaged in q death struggle to determine which one of them shall hold the ruling power in this government. Al most every man in the land who gives any thought at all to public interests, is q participant in this strife-is identified with either one or Cnc other Of the contending
 parties, and is bending his aid to throw the victory on the side of his fayoritc party. Partyism seems to be the shrine at which almost every man in the whole army of public men, bows and
 pays his devotions. So absolute
 ly is devotion to party cnshrined in the hearts of our public men, that it might be well to stop and 
 ask if PARTY is no' fast getting a iirmer and deeper rooted place in our affections than COUNTRY.
 We see already the fearful con sequences which have resulted from this ovcrzcalous devotion to party. The various acts of usur- patton with which the dominant party is charged, admonish Us of the danger of allowing devotion to party, to supplant love of coun- try, in our affections. We would not be understood to be opposed to party organizations, or to be in favor of disbanding the present political parties, and forming new ones. Nor would we wish to be understood as fayoring Q general experimentation. Party organiza- tions, we look upon, as answering good ends in our political econo- my. They arc necessary and in dispensable; and act as healthy check upon the interruptions as pirations of ambitious rulers. But it is the too fcrvent devotion to party that-we condemn, and that is dangerous. It is the extreme
 iealty to party, that will not only tolerate, but actually connive at, and endeavor to cover up, corrupt ion in party. It is that frenzied and fatal devotion to party which will allow party leaders to com init cncroachment after cncroach- ment upon the laws and the Con stitntion, without purging the par ty from all such corrupt material. It is this, and this alone, which put in motion the great tidal wave which made such havoc in the re- publican ranks last fall. And it is this, which will beat any party of men, who will suffer such taint of corruption to attach to their or ganization. The Democratic par ty, if they would come off conquer ors in this conflict, must not be blind to the lesson which the his tory of the republican party af- lords, If it wishes the support and favor of the masses, it must | merit it. It must select leaders | of purity and patriotism. Itmust inscribe on its banners-Country, | first, last, and all the mc;-and l then every act must point in the | direction of carrying out the mot to. Andrew Johnson makes fer vent appeal for this principle in his great speech in the United l States Senate, and warns his countrymen against the danger of becoming party 2ealots, He aflirms that party on the one side or the other is running this gov ernment well nigh to ruin. Gov ernment must not be run in the interest of parties; but parties ! must be forced to shape every pol | icy of government for the good of the country.
 Government is for the people 1 and by the people, and not for parties; and whenever the people l are inspired more by love of their country and desire for good gov crnment, than they are for party success, then win the great politi- cal parties which are striving for the favor of the people, begin to study policy which will bring substantial and lasting prosperity to the country. And in the great conflict to be waged in the next 1nuna ipn fhat ,,opt,, |.