The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-01-25
The Republican and Democratic
Parties.

our country q bright genius by the
name Of Alexander Hamilton, whose
writings and influence contributed
in no small degree to the formation
of our Federal Union, and mainly
through his influence there arose a
great political party in the United
States, the grounds for the formation
Of the organization being the party's
alleged friendship for our present
constitution, and which numbered
among its advocates and warm and
devoted supporters the illustrious
name Of Washington and those of
Adams, Jay and others, and the OPP
posers Of the cherished views Of these
leading spirits-there being num-
bered among their opponents the i'm
mortal Jefferson, and also Madison,
Monroe, Gallatin and others-they
denominated "Anti.Federalists," at
the same time calling themselves
"Federalists." And here as early as
1888 appeared political organizations
since which there has scarcely been
time when our country's history
has not been marked with the exist
ence of two or more political parties
contending for power and prestige in
our General and State governments.
The cardinal principle of the Feder-
alists was that the constitution
should be adopted as it left the hands
of its trainers, while on the other
hand the opponents only favored its
adoption upon the condition that GER
tain amendments should be adopted
which they proposed to the instru-
ment and which, or at least most Of
which, were accepted and our consti-
tuition went into operation, the Fed
eral party at the same time going in
to power.
And it continued in power till 1901,
when it WIS overthrow by the cleo,
tion Of Thomas Jefferson, the opposi-
ton candidate and the founder Of the
great Democratic party. The cause
Of the dissolution of Federalism were
party dissensions and unwise legis-
lation notably in which latter cause
were the "Alien and Section laws"
Now the Federalists assumed a new
and different name, calling them.
selves Wings, Which they retained
until 1858, and finding that name
borrowed from English history would
not prevail against the sound and
sacred theory Of Democracy which
had taken deep root in the minds
and hearts of our people, both from
its achievements and the true JUS
tice and equality supporting its
teaching, they then appeared-most,
Of them-under the strong name
Of "Know Nothing" holding their
meeting in the shadows Of darkness
and celebrating in secrecy and ad.
vocating doctrines inimical TO free
dom and the liberal ideas of Ameri.
can government until they encoun-
tered the keen and whitening look
Coward their party doings) of the
Democracy and its bold and manly
assertion that their principles were
despised and their power defed,
when they at last hit upon the title
of Republican, seized upon the popu.
lar prejudices of the North, declared
their prime object to be the abolition
Of slavery and adopted as their battle
cry mo more compromises with
slavery" and by accident and good
luck came into power in 1861, which
they have swayed absolutely ever
since, but had to part company with
their former associates of the South,
the party having become too sectional.
Amidst all these changes and vacilla-
tions of the Republican party, DEM
ocracy has been true to her name and
principles, and lives to-day an organ
ization of strength and beauty, with
the clements and power ofre-instating
herself in the authority and glory of
an unforgotten past.
The day is not far distant when
Republication will be crushed with
its own weight-its mission, if miss.
ion it ever had-having been long
since accomplished.
Its retention in power is due to the
force of popular prejudice and not to
any merit Of principle or grandeur
Of achievement. Dissension has ap.
peared in its ranks and there is a