Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1882 — Partyism. [ARTICLE]

Partyism.

Partyism in politics is tlie quintessence of party spirit. Anri Whately, the philosopher and scholar, said that “ party spirit enlists a man’s virtue? in the cause of his vices.”

It is a manifest and indisputable fact that the present dominant party in the United States is under the absolute control of partyism as the ruling principle, and consequently what virtues the men of that party may have are enlisted in the cause of their vices. This is a most humiliating and painful fact, and the passing events at the capital of the nation every day give indubitable evidence of its continued existence. Partyism has actually usurped the place of both patriotism and statesmanship. When any measure of public poiicy is presented the inquiry by the leaders of this party is not whether it is constitutional and expedient, whether it will promote the general welfare, is required for the common defense, or to secure the blessings of. liberty or the rights of the people. These things are not thought of, but the inquiry is, will it promote the interests of the party and tend to strengthen it, or will it tend to weaken and defeat the Democratic party ? Party ambition and cupidity alone control. The supremacy of the constitution and the true objects of the Government, which have in view the good and welfare of the whole country, and all the people equally and alike, have been supplanted by party, and the interests and supremacy of this Republican party have taken their places and sacrificed every thing for the distribution of the offices, honors and emoluments of the Government among the adherents of the party as rewards for partisan services. Every political measure, and every political movement in Congress and out of Congress, ! in the executive mansion, and in every official station throughout the remotest confines of the country is tested by the party standard. If it be for the good of the party, the general welfare, the rights of the people, the constitution itself, and the public'safety amount to nothing. The good of the Republican party, and its success and ascendency are made paramount to all other considerations and in fact the sole governing criterion of that party. The most corrupt and degrading abuses of partyism are adopted. By the machinery of caucus leg slation laws are passed which are against the conscientious judgment of a majority of the legislative bodies enacting them. By the intervention of election returning boards they have fraudulently changed the results of elections. And by a partisan system of Supervisors and Deputy Marshals of elections, and the use of money at the polls, and the spoils system of office, they have corrupted and controlled the elections and defeated and practically overthrown popular government. Everything is made to succumb to the inexorable purpose of the Moloch of the party, and to contribute to party supremacy, wholly regardless of all restraints of the constitution or of established principles, political or moral. One of the most influential of the acknowledged leaders of this party, Senator Sherman, deliberately announced in his place on the floor of the Senate, about a year ago, that “anything that will bear down that party (the Democratic), and build up our own (the Republican) is justifiable in morals and in law !”—that is, anything, however immoral or criminal, that will beat down the Democratic party, and keep the Repnbl ican party in power, is j ustifiable in morals and in law. [See Congressional Record, volume 12, No. 23, page 10, April 7,1881.] This is the doctrine which has, and does now, govern the leaders of this party. The preservation of the party and its supremacy are made to rise above all ether considerations, moral and political. Under such teachings Guiteau concluded that it was a “political necessity,” in order to save the party, to put President Garfield out of the way, heuce the assassination. American Register,