The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-04-24
PARTY HISTORY.

RAM
It may not be uDinteresting just at this
juncture to review. briefly the rise and fall of
the parties in connection with the history of
the United States. Prior to the war of indie
pendence there were two principal PARTIES
the party of American freedom and indie
pendence and the English or tory party.
The former favored all measures looking to
the upholding of American rights and the
latter opposed them, claiming unconditional
and servile allegiance to the crown of Great
Britain. These were the contending forces
at the period of the revolution, and
for long time after the for
nation OF the American constitution.
The English or tory party, though weak
ened by the results of the seven years of
war, was by no means dead, because 1T was
composed largely of property holders who
considered it the better policy to yield a
quasi consent to the rule of the indepen-
dents, with the hope OF giving somewhat of
a monarchical form to the new government.
Unable 10 institute a kingdom or to coro-
nate a king they set themselves to work
in favor OF a strong central organization.
They used their best influences with
Madison, Hamilton, Jay, Adams and
others in favor of p concentration of
large power in the general governments.
But these great men were patriots, and dis
posed to follow the genius of American
democracy, although 10 some extent the
federal party succeeded in incorporating
some of their favorite features in the new
constitution. These loyalists were ever
awake to government patronage, and they so
far succeeded with the British government
as to get SIS, OOO,0 600 indemnity as compensa-
ton for property destroyed during the revo
luton The rigid organic character Of this
ancient feaeral party was seen in their
continued efforts to check the spirit of
democracy, so popular among the masses.
They influenced the minds of some of the
leading patriots of the country, and it may
be said they were ably represented by Alex
ander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury
under Washlngtons administration. But
Thomas Jefferson, secretary of foreign affairs,
took the part of the people, and he and
Hamilton often differed In the policy best
for the republic. For twelve years federal
policy was in the ascendency.
The first great struggle between these par
ties occurred at the close of WashiDgton's adj
ministration, when the federallsts carried
John Adams into the presidential chair, and
Thomas Jefferson was made vice president.
The conflict was fierce one among the peo-
Pile and resulted in close vote, leaving the
parties about equal. The general policy OF
the administration of John Adams was I'M
popular, and in 1880 the federal party was
defeated. Thomas Jefferson, who has been
called the father OF American democracy,
came to the presidency with the opening of
the century. His broad views of human
rights were brilliantly brought out in his
administration of eight years, when he was
succeeded in 1903 by James Madison, a
member of his cabinet, who conducted
his administration on the same line of
democratic policy. The war of 1872,
which gave such eclat to our American
valor, also fully indicated the patriotism of
the democratic administration, and the
prestige OF federalism persisted with the vic
tory of New Orleans. James Monroe sue
ceeded Madison in 1916, and followed the
same order OF general policy.
In 1924 there were four candidates in the
\ field for the presidency-Adams in the east,
/ Crawford in the south, and Jackson and
/ Clay in the west. As the federal party had
/ gone to the wall, this conflict was more one
of sectional ambition than of a specific
party contest In the election of
Andrew Jackson and John c. Cal
houn in the contests of 1923 and 1882 the
/ democratic party was once more in the
ascendency it continued to maintain until
1910, when'the WING party made its first sue
cessful race in the election of General w. III.
Harrison, whose chief impulses of victory
were log cabin and hard cider. General
and his party carried the day on his war
record and by misrepresentation Of the ad-
ministration of Martin Van Buren,. General
Harrison died in month after his inaugur-
alton and John TTler, vice president, as
sumed the presidential chair. Being a
democrat IN his principles, his administra-
ton was more or less governed accordingly.
1t 1874 James X. Polk was elected by tho
democratic party, but in 1913 the party was
defeated through the detection. of the friends
Of Martin Van Buren, in their oppositions to
General Cass, and General zachariah Taylor,
one of the heroes of the Mexican war. sue
ceeded to the presidential chair on his mill
tary renown. General Taylor was no partl-
] zsn and his administrations was of the same