The Russellville Democrat., 1888-08-02
THEIR NUMBERED DAYS
The Parties That Have Opposed
 Democracy.

The fartleS Inat nave OppOseQ
 Democracy.
 In the murdered years of the re- pubic three parties have divided be- tween them the opposition of Dem ocracy, and it is curious to note that each of them existed about the same length of time, coincident with one generation of men.
 With the ratification of the consti- tution in 17SS the Federal party com menced it's career, and it lasted until 1920, when It went to pieces-a pe- riod of thirty-two years, during which it held power for most respect able and publicly the leest sagacious of all the great parties which have divided the country. It had great leaders, but they never formulated their principles In g way to be com prehensible to the mash of the voters and the writers of Hamilton of Cabot and of Fisher Ames may be search ed in vain for an exposition, we'll de- fined, of cardinal party principles,in this respect being in marked contrast with the writings on Jefferson.
 In 1924 the Adams and Clay Re publicans united and completed the organization of the party, which a few years later assumed the name Of Whig. Henry Clay became its &C., cepted and cherished leader, and during his life time It was strong and formidable opponent of the Dem ocratic party. It was successful Tn but two presidential contests, elect ed Harrison in 1840 and Taylor in 1S4S, and both of those victories proved 10 be almost as disastrous as defeat. Both presidents died in of- fee and the vice presidential success ors rent the party with dissension which forbade further success. Its great leader, Clay, himself brought about its most fatal rupture through the fugitive slave law and comprom- ise of 1850. In the presidential cam paign of 1852 it was overwhelmingly defeated, carrying but four states out of thirty-one, and these by very narrow majorities. It continued to exist in some of the states until 1856 when it's adherents took refuge in the other parties. Its last conven- tion was held in 1856, when it put no candidates in nomination, but in dorsed the candidacy of Fillmore and Donelson, who had been nominated by the American party. Thus it al so lasted thirty-two years. Its great economic doctrine was the high pro- tective tariff, which it had received from the Federal party, and in turn bequeathed to the Republican party,
 Although organized in few of the states the year previously, the Re publican party commenced its career in 1856 with the nomination of John c. Fremont It was composed large ly of men who had been Free Soil Democrats, re-enforced by northern Wings and Know Nothings. It held power continuously from 1860 to Is- S4, though fairly beaten in 1876. Like the Whigs under Henry Clay, it has become the party of single leader, snd as that was Clay party so is this Blaine party. Like the former opposing parties to Democra cy, it has now lasted for thirty two years, but the signs of it's disinteffra ton are apparent on every hand. It is altogether likely that Repub- lican convention will assemble again in 1892, but it may do so, as the Whig convention assembled in 1856, only to indorse the nominees of some other psrsy,-Chicago Herald.