Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-07-19
THE TWO GREAT PARTIES.

communication from Prof. J. II.
Paul concerning the two grer
political parties Of our country. In
this communication he gave some
valuable information, and yet there
are few ideas untouched by him
which Il seems are worthy OF con-
sideration. To be well acquainted
with an individual, we must know
something Of his history. BY such
knowledge we shall be better able to
perceive the motives which under
lie his actions ami give impulse to
them. So also with political parties.
Political creeds aud platforms are
but the crystalized ideas Of vast
masses Of men who have, perhaps
long before, already discussed these
respective political principles.
Happily for the easy explanation
OF this subject, we may add that,
50 far rs the changed circumstances
Of our country admit, the republic
can party OF the present day very
much resembles the federal party Of
a hundred years ago. We may
therefore, for purposes Of illustration,
speak Of the political parties both
then and now rs democratic and
republican.
The original thirteen colonies in
their isolated positions, in some in
stances separated by trackless for
ests, as well ss in the different con-
ditious Of their settlement, had
much 10 lead each to LOOK upon it.
self as a sovereign state, the aillirs
Of which could be interfered with
10y nothing except the vaguely de-
fined claim Of the sOvereigus from
whose dOminiOus the cUlOuis;s had
come. The hardy KuickeTbOckers
Of New Netherlands (uow New
York; had no idea OF matchmaking
with the inhabitants OF New Eng
land, who spake another language
and believed another religion.
Neither was K 10 be expected that
the Quakers OF Pennsylvania
would affiliate with the sturdy
Episcopalians Of Virginia, much les
with the Catholics Of Maryland. In
a word, each Of the colonies was set
tied under conditions, either ex-
pressed or implied, that no other
colony nor all other colonies com
binei had a right to interfere with
its internal affairs.
This was the germ, the pith. the
marrow Of democracy. This was
the idea that permeated society
when the COlOnisis formed their first
Articles Of Confederation" The
second article Of that instrument
expressly declared each State re-
tains its sovereignty, freedom and
Independence, AMI every power.
Jurisdiction and right which is not
by tins confederation expressly dele
gated TO the United states in Con-
gress assembled
From lT77 TO 1859 the United
States were governed by this cont
pact. But twelve years Of unrest
was sufficient to prove that the
democratic Utopia was impractic-
able. As soon A. the great strain Of
the war Of Independence was over,
and the people had time to reflect,
theyJperceived the inherent we5k-
ness Of their government. The
wisest statesmen Of America, such as
Washington, Franklin Adams, Alex
ander Hamilton, Morris Rutledge
and William Livingston began 10
agitate for greater strength 10 the
central government. At this Juno
ture was founded the Federakst by
Alexander Hamilton, which after
wards proved TO be one Of the ablest
political magazines ever published.
Here arose the germ Of the Federal
or republican party, which. after n
few years agitation, 50 Influenced
society that at length the people Of
the United States laid aside the old
ARTICLES Of Confederationo aud
sent forth the proclamation that
I'VE, the people OF the United
states, in order TO form 4 more pcr-
feet union, etc. do hereby
ordain AMI establish this Constitu.
ton for the United States Of North
America.''
Here then we see the inner
ent difference between the two
great political parties. The demo-
cratic holds that all power
originates with the sovereign States
and Congress Possesses no power
except that which these States have
delegated to it. The Republicans
both then and since have
thousand times declared that the
supreme power originates with the
people in their collective capacity.
and the States possess no powers
except those given 10 them by Con-
gress.
In short then, we may perceive
that the Democratic party is the
champion Of local self-gOvernment
with tendency 10 State independ-
ence, while the Republican party is
the special advocate Of strong
central government with n tend
ency to imperialism.
Having thus defined the status Of
each party, il is easy 10 perceive
their tendency in each political
movement. In the very constitut-
ing Of Congress We see these two
principles at work. In the fornla-
ton OF the Senate each State is
considered as sovereign ard indie
pendent, and Is recognized as
having the right to send two senat-
Ors irrespective Of its size or popula-
ton. Thus little Rhode Island Is
accredited with two senators, while
New York, nearly forty times as
large, and with fully twenty times
its population, sends likewise two
senator's.
On the other hand, in the House
Of Representatives where each
member is elected by a constituency
OF State boundaries, We
perceive the tendency to follow the
idea.
81 also in the subsequent political
we perceive the work
lngs Of these two antagonistic prin