Daily Los Angeles herald., 1880-12-23

Pesisseai Parsiss-w the Democ-
Faey Five:
Even In monarchical countries
political parties are not only bens-
ficlal but an absolute necessity.
From the very instant that the
British government assumed the
constitutional form which now
characterized it-and the expert
ence embraces q period of nearly
two hundred ysars-the same two
nearly balanced and aggressive
parties have struggled for the con-
troll Of the government. James III.
endsAvorsd to ignore English par
ties and the result was the loss of
his three Kingdoms. William Of
Orange was favored by circum-
stances in being able to measura-
bly, disrsgard parties, but he sui.
fersd infinite vexation in the at
tempt, and yielded his stubborn
will often enough to avoid danger
Gus collisions. Undsr the placid
and yielding Anne personal gov
eminent disappeared in England,
although several Of the Georges,
and notably George III, endeav.
ored, to . limited extent, to resur-
rect the old doctrine Of the kingly
prerogative, with the result of a
loss Of the American colonies and
: more vigorous assertion Of the
right Of the British people to con-
troll their own affairs through the
agency OF political parties.
In this two hundred years the
advances made in civilization in
England, through the steady pro-
gress of parties, have been simply
lncAlculable. Emulation and COM
petition for the popular favo have
steadily liberalized the laws OF
England and given humanitarian
cast to the British people. Take,
for example, the closing days OF
the last century. When the elo-
quence OF Pitt, Fox and Burke was
olsctrifying the world there were
upwards Of a hundred statutes un-
der which the death penalty could
be inflicted upon the objects of the
sovereign Of Great Britain. The
common people counted for moth
ing. Two-thirds of the House of
Commons were returned from
closed boroughs absolutely owned
BY powerful noblemen. The de-
tails Of Parliamentary representa-
tion afforded disheartening spec
tacle nearly as disgraceful as the
brutality Of the laws relating to
life and property. Step by step the
cempetiti0n of the two great
!. British parties-Whig outbidding
Tory, and Tory In turn outbidding
WING, has resulted in one Of the
best governments known In the
world in England, at least as re.
spscts her own people.
Ifparties are q necessity under a
monarchical government they are
che very breath Of life of Repub.
lie. Doubtless, had it not been for
the Federal party, the United
States, lately released from the ty-
ranny of . monarch, would have
been In great danger of initiating
the extravagances of the French
Republic of Danton, Marat and
Robespierre. Had 1t not, on the
other hand. been for the Demo-
cratic party, led by Jefferson, the
infant Republic of the United
States would have had first-class
chance Of being stranglsd while in
swaddling clothes, and of being re.
placed by . monarchy modelled
upon that of Great Britain. Prob
ably the latter danger was the
moro imminent OF the two, but
that the Federal party performed q
useful Office cannot be doubted by
the most rabId Democrat. The
parallel could be made minute
and interesting one, and could be
carried In detail through every
phase OF our national history.
Enough to say that, had 1t not
been Tor the bold, aggressive and
patriotic Democracy, during the
past twenty years, the accomplish.
ed conquest OF the South would
have been used by the Republican
leaders, flushed with their long,
deferred victory, ~ the lever TO
overturn the admirable balance of
the American system, with untold
dangers OF military usurpation fol-
lowing Ia the train of their AFRO
giant success. The unflinching
Democratic party nobly responded
10 the necessity of the hour, stand.
Ing up to it's opponents with a lions
'front.' prehting by their every ex-
"ses' and slowly but surely forcing
"f the Inscriptions spo.
This was
'hich
will