Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1879-04-11
ISLAND POND, W., APRIL IL, 1879.


ISLAND POND, VIZ, APRIL II, 1879.
When a party has been long In
power, in the nature OF things it tran
spires that many errors are developed
in it which need correction, and of
course the adherents OF opposite par
ties are quick to detect and proclaim
them to the world. and even to con-
,tinue in such proclamation those er-
rors which have been corrected, and
do,claim that their correction is proof
of error, aud that from that there
naturally follows the conclusion that
the party is corrupt. No party ever
went into power under more didicalt
circumstances than that one which
took the country burdened with the
results Of our late terrible war, New
relations growing ont of the 'bitterest
hostility were to be harmonized, the
regulation of different Interests were
to DC accomplished without previous
experiences in like cases, the'intricate
relations between federal and State
rights. tate and general Jurisdiction
were to come up in various unforeseen
forms; and finally, all the discordant
clements left by the war were TO be
taken and remoulded, and all the an
ger of treason was to be worked in
as a component part, presenting a
work more difficult even than the
original organization Of the govern
ment. with this work the great ma
tional party started. That they
would make no mistake no man was
foolish enough to expect, but when
experience taught a-better way, it has
been frankly substituted. 1t has sue
ceedei beyond expectation, until the
principles on which it was founded
have in the main been adopted by all
parties. 1t has maintained its posi-
ton firmly. 1t has been remarkably
fortunate in one respect, for on sew
eral oct asions, WhcD the people were
almost persuaded to exchange it for
another, some startling exhibition of
treason would spring up among its
opponents which would drive the
country back to it as the only nucleus
around which loyalty could rally and
feel secure.
1T is how being attacked cncc more.
thought to he tested, and fairly tried
1T has no inherent right to rule. 1t
ought to exist only as it proves itself
more subscryicnt to the public veal.
1t ought not to be destroyed by force
ar violence. 1t ought not TO be at.
tackled with ,treachory or fraud. Its
principles ought to be tested and eX-
amined fairly upon their merits. 70
attack the government with an armed
force is one kind of treason; to with
hold support and sustcnancc from it,
and yield to it the means for its sup
port only on condition that it shall
yield its principles and what has been
proved to be its wise legislation, is
another kind Of treason not less
olious, more dangerous, and far less
nIanly. When MI. Blackburn says.
the Demo cratic party Las come back
to rule the county, we are prone to
ask, bach from aObere? This see to
be rather arrogant language to be
used by one who has come back to
his country to those who have not
been absent from it.
What is the long and short Of this
attack? Is it that the assailants ap
propriate funds for the support Of
government, saying we will not starvel
the government into any compulso y
Legislation and then go on and exam
inc other principles Of legislation in.
dependent Of and untrammelled by
the appropriation Which belongs to
the government, independents Of the
other considerations? NO, very far
from this. They say, we will appro-
pirate funds to support the govern
mcpt only on condFtioa that you
will adopt by the bill that makes the
appropriation q legislation that is con-
Eistent with the notions of the friends
of the late Southern confederacy.
They say, give us the legislation we
ask or we'll let the government
statve, and die. If this government
has been saved from death to be thus
shamclessly betrayed by its enemies
now, we have yet much to learn Of
kthe character Of American frcemen.