The Morning herald., 1876-03-03
WILMINGTON, MARCH 3. 1876.
ARE PARTIES NECEssARY1


Government by party is fatal to the in
dependence of public men, is the caption
Of long article in recent issue Of Every
Evening" wherein, among other things, it
bewails the refusal of the Missouri Demo-
Gratis to return Carl Schurz to the Senate
of the United States. We fail to see how
the State of Missouri or the Republic lost
anything by the absence Of this superb de-
batter. from the Senate Thinker or states
man, he is not-as he never developed a
policy original in character, and by in
nate power pushed it into public view;
hence it is a misnomer to call him think
er or statesman. He il brilliant and
powerful mental athlete, if the truth be
told Of him free lance. He is changea-
BILE, and in all probability without princi'
pie. In 1S4S he took rank as one of
the most advanced Red Republicans
Of Europe, and was compelled
to flee from the vengeful wrath Of the
Potentates of Germany. Twenty-Five years
pass away, and we find him back in Ger
many the adulater of the powers, he vom-
tied his denunciation, embracing the en-
tire range of German Billingsgate against
in 1848, as accursed rulers who ought
to be exte7minated." The inception of
his quarrel with Grant, grew not out Of his
independence; but was caused by his in
tense hate Of France, and his rage
that any aid or opportunity what
ever was given to his-and his ma
tive count rvs enemies His ex-
pectation of reward from the Democracy
led him Oh to further assaults upon the
President. When his hopes were dashed,
he took a trip to Europe, and came back
to speak, practically for Grant in the Ohio
campaign charging the moderate price for
Patriot and Independent of $500 per
speech. Independence is truly cur
rent and marketable in the person of Mr..
Schurz.
So much for the idol of our cotemporary
In the same article it is charged that the
Democratic members Of City Council /" are
ignorant and incompetent, as many of us
here believe" We ask every Eve
ming" to point out in what particular, the
Democratic members are either one, or
the other. They do not wear No. kids
it is true, but they are honest straight
forward men, who have fairly and openly
administered the affairs of the city gov
ernment, for the interest of every class of
citizens and if ought to the contrary is
known, let it be told at once. Taking
them in mass, they are quite as intelligent,
and we'll informed as any equal number
Of our citizens, chosen by chance from the
entire population. Many of them are
men, the peers in general education to
their revilers. Their incompetency, is a
dream Of the fervid "Independent" of our
neighbor, the members of Council neglect
nopart Of their duties, and have done them
we'll, wisely, and promptly.
Has it ever occurred to our cotemporary
that parties have always existed, in every
civilized society and that in proportion
as people were free, party feeling and
discipline were the more intense, and
public men the more brilliant and indie
pendent. In Greece and Rome, party
lines were clearly defined, and so closely
rescmbled the Dcmocra tic and Federal
organizations of ou; Republic, that a
sketch of a party contest in which Pericles,
Themistocles, Aristides, Sylla, Cauis Grac.
chas, Crassus, or Caesar, were actors,
would do with little change;-for the fight
in which Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson,
Monroe, Clay, and Randolph, were COM
batants. Parties do not exist in the same
sense in despotic countries, as they do in
those blessed with freedom. Do we find
"independent men," where parties exist
net? No! The illustration about Mr..
Bayard is inapt. He takes position in
his party because he is believer in its ma.
tional policy and principles, and he o,
any other man in leading position would
forfeit their independence, to enter into
petty municipal quarrels Such mer
properly overlook trivial local contests, a.
their result in no way affects the policy O
their party, in its application to the gov.
ernment of the Republic.
Parties have always existed, and are ar