Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-01-27
POLITICAL. PARTIES.

HOl.ll lOAls AM LIS.
Tha, there should be two political par
ties in every representative government,
is a well settled principle of political
eoonomy-if We may use that term IN
this connection. These parties shoald
represent ideas or different opinions IN
regard to methods Of administering the
affairs of State. The parties should De
evenly matched in numbers. IN wealth,
in intelligence and in social position, II
the best results are to be secured. Then
each acts as a check upon the other, and
prevents a too sudden change Of policy.
which might prove disastrous to the Ma
ton. But while these parties represent
antagonistic ideas their adherents should
not be 80 far carried away by party zeal
a. 10 carry this antagonlSm with them
INTO all the walks of life. We admire a
strong partisan-one who has made HIM
self familiar with the principles that are
represented by his party, and who for the
sake of those principles. stands BY II
through thick and thin. Such partisan
a. strong man. worthy of hearty respect
and confidence. But there Is another
style of party man who degrades the party
TO which he belongs and warrants the
uronouncing of politician with an ae-
cen, of contempt. This man does not
realize that parties are opponents OF IDEAS
nor that they have any mission higher
than the distributing Of official patronage.
He. also, IS an intense partisan: he Will
.nrlov none but members OF DIS own
marty: ne sees no good in others; he de-
nounces without stint his opponent; hav-
ing no principle in the matter, he gives
Others credit for none, and frankly SAYS
j, is simply a question OF gain or loss IN
the scramble for Office
What the State and country needs to-
dav IS 10 cultivate intelligent partisan
shin. and 70 discourage and uproot the
marty spoils system. Men should work
for principles and not for place alone
Blind adherence TO party, the following
of party leaders. and the ehnglng to
party name after its principles are gone
sill ruin the Republic There are, IN
the Democratic and Greenbaek parties,
honorable and conscientious men. worthy
Of ali confidence in business and social
relations. but who are 80 blinded by party
prejudice that they commit great wrong.
The Greenback party was organized to
combat the policy Of specie resumption.
MANY conscientious men believed that
resumption would ruin the country. 1t
was accomplished. The country grew
more prosperous. This demolished the
foundation of that party, or took away
che principle for which IT had contended-
Instead of paUsing 20 consider, many
voters continued TO blindly follow the
name Of Greenbackism. unaware that It
MAS now a simple derrick to hoist their
leaders into fat offices. Then when the
great fraud of giving positions to men
who were not elected had been perpetrs-
ted. these men did not stop again to think
but followed unquestioniagly their lead
en- and echoed their sentiments. Thus
men who would not eoGntenance the theft
of a pin became the companions OF rob
bers and accessories TO the great wrong.
If the honest portion Of the2e two
parties had protested against the wrong
done in party's name, this State would
not have been brought to the verge OF
revolution and anarchy. II was this
blind adherence to party that gave Us the
civa war. When the Democratic party
became saturated with the southern idea
Of States Rights Inion men should
haze deserted it, as they did when the
armed conflict began. Such desertion OF
an untenable doctrine would have averted
the war. Sc ROW, those who believe In
stable government must cease to follow
the parties which resort to dishonest Prae-
tees 70 obtain OF 10 retain Office. The
question Of psrty spoils must be thrust
into the background and there must De
. yrand rally for honesty Il politics and
for priaciple.
The real division between parties in
this country now IS and always has been
in relation TO the powers of the general
Government. On one side are those VINO
love the nation. and who would see ITS
hands strengthened. On the other side
are those designating elements vhleh
lead TO anarchy. Shall we have gov
eminent loved at home and respected
abroad or spend our forces in this selfish
struggle for party supremacy at any costi