Year: 1872

Tho great crime, and at the same time
the great peril, in American politics has
been, and is, blind, intense party spirit.
That parties should exist whore men have
political liberty, and think for themselves
and therefore differently, is natural. That
parties have their uses, and, provided their
measures are restrained within proper
limits, are n source of safety instead of dan
ger, is also conceded. But in order to serve
this profitable purpose, they need to he
looked upon solely as a means TO an end
their success must be sought not for their
own sake, but the countrys. Reverse this
order and make the party first and the
country second, and we have principle as
thoroughly prolific of evil as can well be
imagined. Then, in projecting measures,
the great question is, not how they will
bear upon the interests of the nation, but
how will they affect the prospects of the
party. In dealing with measures proposed
by others, ii is asked, not whether the con-
venience, the business, the honor of great
people demand them, but whe her this or
that party will gain prestige by the move
ment. In appointing men 10 Office tho in
quiry is, not how will they serve the coun-
try, but how many votes will they bring
TO the party. In all discussions of men and
measures the effort is, not to learn the truth
and present ii fairly and impartially to the
people, but to pervcrt facts, and garble
statements, and blacken character Just so
far as it is supposed this will serve the in
teresis of the party. Now whether this has
been, thus far, the history of party tacics
in this country, let those who know them
best decide. The movements in Congress
and in every State Legislature, the writings
of the whole partizan press, the discussions
80 common before each election are evil
denco; and ii is not too much to say, it lies
mostly in one direction.


AS TO the crime and danger of such deal
ings there can be no question with thought
ful men. Is misrepresentation less a
wrong because it is political? Is a slander
less criminal because it Is against rival
candidate? Is obstructing the best interests
OF the country farther removed from trea-
son because it is supposed to serve party?
Honest and high minded public men we
have always had. Are they less sensitive
to abuse because it is heaped upon their
official action There was something ex-
ceedingly touching in some of the utter
ances OF President Taylor upon his death
bed. 81 have met" he said, "since came
to Washington, what l could never before.
for moment, have anticipated. My feel
lngs have been most grossly outraged
my acts misreprosented, and my motives





malingod.' Ills life, ii was the opinion of
many, was a sacrifice to this abuse which
he could not abide, though he neverquailed
in the fury of the battle field. Even more
expressive, perhaps, were the indignant
words OF George Washington when he
wrote TO Jefferson in l790. Every act of
my Administration has been tortured, and
the grossest and most nsidious misrepre-
sensations of them made by such exageer-
ated and indecent means as could scarcely
be applied to Nero, notorious defaulter,
or even to common pick pocket" A
sample OF the terms in which Washington
was sometimes addressed when private
pique was quickened by opposition to ufi-
cial acts, may be found in. the following
which was written to him by Thomas
a "'''N' -hhh 40 ~ y Ous iltdtutIOuS Ill
private friendship; (lor so you have been
to me, and that in the day of danger,) and
hypocrite in private life, the W, rid will
be puEsled TO decide whether you are an
apostate or an imposter. Whether you
have abandoned good principles, or whether
you ever had any,"


But impartial history will take care of
the reputation of such men rs Washington
'and Taylor and Lincoln as il will also OF
that of every honorable man who truly
serves his country. Such MEN have at least
this comfort. But more than this, the in
stncts of the people of their own times
have thus far, for the most part, vindicaled
such men, and the present signs are that
they will continue TO do it. The effort to
make party capital by Misrepresentation
and abuse may not diminish we think ii
does not. But ii is a comfort to believe
that the pdlue Of the capital so made docs
aot Increase. There never was t;me when
the people were less bound by party, or
more inclined to endorse real integrity and
ability wherever ii is found. In the excl
ting political canvass just opening whoever
overooks these signs of tho times will
make great mistake. All concerned will
do well to remember the trite maxim
about "honesty the best policy" in their
dealings with character and measures rs
well as with Mercantile Journal