The Louisiana Democrat., 1882-10-11
PARTY SPIRIT.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT

| EDITOR DEMOCRAI-
Had we revised our first article un
der the above caption before handing
it in, the probability is you would
have been spared the infliction of
printing it, and your readers that of
perusing tiff there were any of the
latter. AS we remarked to you, it
was hurriedly written and not even
glanced over afterward, hence we find
it in printed form diffuse and ver-
bose, in the main anything or moth
ing, the latter predominating. But
we maintain the subject is one Of no
small Importance, and hence repeat
"if party spirit be restrained within
proper and legitimate limits, it has
been correctly styled the very life
blood of all representative govern
men:s," and more especially such as
our own. We think it would be not
only impracticable but calamitous
catastrophe, if it were, did we all
think alike. While in union there
is strength still there are very few
subjects conceivable that have not at
least two sides, and it is only by
their proper ventilation, by a system
of sitting the tares from the wheat,
that we can hope to arrive at a prop
er understanding of any measure of
State craft, any political problem
To effect this calm reflection and dis
cussion both by the press and from
the hustings is absolutely indispen-
sable. Inter silvas Academi querie
verum, which construed would read,
"seek truth in the groves of Acide-
mus"--is Latin maxim, more lit
erary and intellectual than poiti-
cal one, but still to the real seeker
after truth it will apply equally to
politics as science. Oar country EN-
braces geographically so extensive
an empire, its soil, climate and pro-
ductions are so varied, that sectional
interests have sprung up which have
not unfrequently brought the Union
to the very verge of disruption
this, too, even before that final catas-
trophe, the late civil war, in compar-
ison with which all previous ones
were dwarfed. Party spirit, then,
has existed since the very foundation
of the government by the adoption
Of the federatiye compact--nay, even
before it, from the date of our i'm,
mortal Declaration of Independence.
Put forth as it was during our colon.
ial weakness it is likely to exist in
some shape as long as civil liberty
endures, and that must endure till
if ever--supplanted by despotism.
1t hehooves US, then, to guard well
our bulwarks, for by the continued
practice of virtue and vigilance Can
our, not too dearly bought liberties
only be maintained. How may this
be done2 is query demanding oul
most solemn thought. Fully con.
scious of our own weakness and lack
of experience, it might be more be-
coming that we should shrink from
grasping subject so momentous
and yet it is one that must be me,
and should be soberly discussed.--
How, then, can it be otherwise in 6
government like ours than that party
spirit should exist? We have
| alluded to the vast extent of our ter.
ritory, our wide domain, by far great:
er CONTINUOUSLY than that of any ma
tion of ancient or modern times, its
variety of soil, climate and produc
tiveness--our greatest danger may
be said to arise from that riva|rv ex.
listing between so called sectional in
terests, thus engendering sectional
animositits, jealousies and even ha
tired. 1t is against this that in his
farewell address the father of bis
country--its first President--as i,
were with prophetic inspiration
warned us, pronouncing it a demon
the rock on which he feared, even a,
that remote period, our liberties
would be ultimately wrecked. Had
his advice been adhered to, his sol
emn warning, and that of others Of
|
his day, been regarded by the people
to whom be bequeathed heritage SC
precious, what heigth of national
greatness and grandeur might we not
have attained? While there is actu
ally such diversity Of prodution
growing out of causes already stated,
bad more fraternal feeling existed
wiser counsels prevailed between the
different sections, instead of any pc.
culiar interest clashing with others,
each might have been harmonized in
one grand whole, instead Of being, as
now, rent by internal fudes. While
l.. l.