National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-01
The President, the Party, and the Of

The President, the Party, and the Of
fees.
To what extent political parties are
Joint stock companies for the obtainment
of dividends for shareholders in the
shape of Offices and other governmental
favors, and to what extent they are asso-
Citations for the assertion, maintenance,
and enforcement in public affairs of cer-
tain political views, is q study for which
there are always ample materials in
Washington. Earnest advocates of views
are often earnest applicants for office.
This implies no Inconsistency. Fidelity
10 principle is entirely consistent with
either large or small ambition. The love
of fame in soldier may reinforce his
patriotism without sullying it, The SEN
ator may desire reelection without the
less conscientiously performing his duty.
The citizen in private station may desire
official distinction or even the small sal
airy attached to the drudgery of clerical
routine without incurring Just censure.
But the one thing to be constantly con-
Bidcred is that the right to office, great
or small, does not attach to membership
of party. This is obvious when we
consider that voters are counted by mil
lions, while offices are only thousands.
If the cohesion of political parties should
depend upon the benefits derived by
members in the shape of offices, it is
mathematical certainty that no party in
power could long retain any non-oflice-
holders within its rank.
The great centripetal power of party
then must be its soul, and not the mere
individual desires of its members Par
ties form themselves around some cause
which greatly stirs the people. At one
time it is to beat back the fancied ag-
grcssions of national bank, as in Jack
sons time; at another it is to extend the
area of freedom () by carving out posi-
Bile new Slave States by the partition of a
ncighborng nation, as was done under
Polk. Anon the slumbering power of
the North rallies around the standard of
opposition to slavery-eXtension, and
carries all before it. A mighty people,
attached to slavery, because it was part
of the. cvnrv-day life, and jealous OF
opposition to it based on asserted moral
superiority, fought for it as men fight for
their altars and their homes Does any
man imagine that the desire for office in
spired the great body of the people who
engaged in these struggles? There was
leadership, love of precedence, mounting
ambition greed of place, and thirst for
fame and money, mingled with the pas
sion for cause; but the disappointed
could not impede the onward march of
their party any more than the failure of
young lawyers to get cases could stop the
administration ofiustice.
What is popularly called the Republi-
can cause is freedoms side of the ire
pressible conflict which divided our ma
tional house against itself for forty years
before the rebellion. 1t was not for
Office or punder that the early defenders
of human rights subjected themselves to
contumely and violence even in Boston.
To these We're successfully added the
Free-Soilers of 1913, the anti Nebraska
Democrats of 1854, the anti-Lecompton
Democrats of 1858, and, when the battle
came, the great body of men who pre-.
ferred the Union to slavery Back
sliders there are from this grand political
church, some because they have received
no material personal rewards, and others
because they wanted slavery preserved
with the Union. But still the recruiting
goes on, and the hosts Of freedom are
opening ranks to receive those of the
defeated who are superior to defeat,
The party Of the Union is now the
party of fieedom-the party of National
Republican liberty and law. II is not a
joint-stock company TO put money in
mems pockets, nor yet lottery assoca-
tion TO bestow the prizes Of office, 1t is
the majority trying TO win over the
minority to real as well rs professed ac-
quescence in the fact that "war legis.
lates." 1t is not a party of the past, but
Of the future. Liberty, Equality, and
Fraternity are its heraldry Liberty
restrained by law, Equality in the right
10 struggle against obstacles, and Frater-
nifty ofpatriotism.
The President is not exhibiting great
alacrity in making vacancies in Office to
be filled by new men. Some are COM