Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-09-04

COmmunicated.l
THE FUTURE OF .fMERxc1N PoLT-
TITS.


pie and cid ISSUES are solved, CT die
away by the force of circumstances.
When the leaders Of political larty
have sagaoiiy enough to recognize lew
factors in politics, and adopt principles
Herewith, its future prominence is as
sured but when they Llindly and per-
sistently ignore new issues, and repre-
sent the dead past alone their political
grave is in process of preparation.
In government Ly the people and
for the people reorganization of po-
litical parties is an almost certain con-
sequence of the ever-varying change of
events. Let us look into our past
history, for that is the only way to
judge the future.
Before the close of the Revolutionary
war it became evident that closer
bond of union between the colonies
was necessary. Washington said, 'We
are bound together by rope of sand,
we are one nation to-day and thirteen
tomorrow
The adoption of the Constitution led
to well-defned diversity of sentiment
between strong centralized govern
ment and confederated congress, al
though naturally enough all eyes and
hearts turned instinctlyeIy to Wash
ington as their frst President. But
eight years gave sufficient time to crys-
talize public opinion on the future con-
duct of government, and at the close
of Washington's administration two
definitely distinct parties were in the
field, each with its candidate for popu-
Jar favor. Opposition to the policy of
the administration led to the forma-
ton of the anti-federal or republican
party, afterwards termed the demo-
cratic party under the leadership Of
Thomas Jefferson, Madison and Mon
roe. With the close of Madison's ad-
ministration twenty eight years had
passed away and with it all the issues
of the Revolutionary war. The era of
good feeling dawned with the admins
tration of Monroe, and the American
people turned their attention from the
exciting topics of foreign war and in
ternat1onal affairs to the more peaceful
pursuits Of extensive agriculture, in
ternal improvements, and rapid deyel-
opment of native resources. The fed
eral party dropped opt of sight, and
the material development of the coun-
try supplied new issues. 1t was a
question with some whether congress
sional aid should be extended to the
building and Improvement of public
works, but so great was the progress of
internal affairs that some provision
was necessary for the exigencies OF
such vast increase of population and
industry.
The development of manufactures
had imposed another question of pub.
lie policy on which there was, as Of
necessity there must he, division OF
sentiment
The manufacturers of the East and
Middle States were in favor of pro
tective tariff that would enable them
to compete with foreign manufacturers.
The Western and Southern States OPP
posed the tariff. Thus it became, as it
ever must be, "a sectional question.
The increase Of territory imposed
another exciting question upon the
political arena Should sla> cry be ex-
tended to the territories or not, CT
should they te allowed TO decide tins
for themselyes} These were some OF
the exciting topics that came up fol
discussion and action.
Out of this turmoil came the organi
cation of the wing party under the
leadership of Clay and Webster. The
rigid administration of Andrew Jack
son had the effect of uniting all the
elements of opposition to Jetfcl sonian
democracy. The wing party gained
further strength during the admins
tration Of Van Buren, owing to tinan-
cial depression and the relaxation fol-
lowing after the tension of ''Old
Hickory"
The democratic party, after holding
.the reins of government successfully
for forty years, was temporarily de-
feated. Harrison and Tyler gave the
United States four years of whig gov
efnment, and in turn gave placesto the
democratic party under James K. Polk.
The annexation of Texas was an
other factor in politics. 1t was advo-
Gated BY the democrats and opposed by
the wings. The dark shadow of slav-
cry was now overhanging every other
issue, and with the accession of new
territory or the creating of new