New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-11
rs REPUBLICAN. SUNDAY. JUNE II. 1875
PARTY SPIRIT

PATTY SPIRIT.
That most vices are only exaggerationl
or perversions of innocent or praiseworthy
traits is truism of which party spiri
forms striking illustration. Nothing il
more natural or more estimable in mans
character as citizen than to take sides ir
one or the other of the great parties into
which every free country is certain to be
divided. Such part once taken, whether
from deliberate and intelligent examine
ton of the questions at issue, from the in
fuence of social surroundings, or even
from the mere force Of hereditary opin-
ions, there arises feeling of party al
legiance, desire to look at party meas
ures from the most favorable standpoint,
and at party men with indulgent eyes, to
see only the advantages promised to the
country by such measures, and only the
good traits of character possessed by snch
men. This very proper spirit is apt, how
ever, gradually to degenerate into one of
censure and sweeping condemnation
against both the measures and the men of
the opposite party. And this downward
grade, leading from party allegiance into
party spirit, is, with the generality of
men, easy and rapid. The embittering of
party feeling is ma turally much more
common and more violent in seasons of
political excitement, as at the approach
or during the height of a campaign; espe-
cially where class interests are involved.
At such times it has been sometimes car
ried to such excess-in England as we'll
as in this country-as to interfere with
social and even family intercourse; rup-
turing old friendships, and even setting
members of the same family against each
other.
One Of the most debasing effects of this
vice is the moral and mental obiquity
which it engenders; making its slaves
blind to the true nature of men and meas
ures where party interests are involved,
and subservient in the setting forth of
biased views on every party question;
instigating them to virulent attacks upon
the characters of even virtuous and noble
minded men of the opposite side; the mis-
of the nature of proposed
measures, the defending of what is plainly
wrong, and the misleading of all subject
to their influence whenever the party may
require that the wrong should be made to
appear the right-in short, to the open
adoption of that immoral political motto,
My party, right or wrong"
Incited by this fell spirit men have not
scrupled to befoul the loftiest characters
whose virtues adorn the pages of history.
Even Washington himself was not mark
TOO high for the arrows of political SLAM
der; and though in that case the bright
ness of his virtues made the attacks futile,
yet in others the old saw ''where there is
20 much smoke there must be some fire."
mas often given aid to such ISLANDERS, and
or time at least dimmed if it could not
'ully many fair name.
This stupid spirit likewise often leads
is followers into rejecting and undervalu-
ng suggestions whose adoption might be
If great value to the country, simply be-
,ause they come from one of the opposing
party, as though truth could be monopo-
lied by political any more than by a
eligious sect
There is, however, something more than
'arty spirit-namely, political indiffer-
laisser aller principle which
maintains that as matters will refuse to
,e long mismanaged, it is useless to dis
urb oneself; which breads the dust and
lin of political strife, and so remains
loot clean and cold while the country
reeds the best services of its citizens.
Setter far is the narrowest partisanship |
,ased on sincerity than this selfish neg
ect of the first duty Of citizenship.
The happy medium lies in an earnest |
Import of ones chosen party in all its |
ust endeavors to subserve the welfare of |
he country; in freely giving ones best
forts to elevate its moral tone whenever
hat seems lowering; in seeing SO far as
ne can that even the best of aims are not |
ought by unworthy means; nor un-
7orthy men advanced on account of sup
'osed availability; nor principles, at any
ime sacrificed to expediency. "Our party
light, not wrong" is an amendment of |
be old MOTTO which marks the distinc-
ion between lofty party allegiance and
city party spirit.
THE KU-KLUX AT WORK.
The Temporary success gained by the