Western courier. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1837-1838, 1837-06-22
From the Jelfersonian.
REFLECTIONS.

Our CoUNTRY.--FEDERAL AND
DEMocRAcV.- From our earliest infancy,
we Americans, have beon accustomed 10
boast with Just and an honest pride,
thai, while in all other nations on the
earth, men were borne down by the iron
hand OF oppression, ours was country,
where freedom, equal rights, and happi-
ness as perfect as is possible for men to
enjoy, existed 10 their fullest EXTENT
That this country commenced its career,
with principles like these, we admit.--
Our early ancestors, who founded this na"
ton, were certainly a people, amongst
whom, peculiar freedom reigned. They
were plain, simple, and moral, in their
habits, manners, and modes Of living
open and familiar in their intercourse
undisiinguished by class or rank, there
was no circle, in which there were any
too low, or too poor to minge, with E-9r-
feet equality. There was no purse-proud
aristt crat, who lived in ideuess, upon the
earnings of the laborous poor, and no
laborious poor who depended for their
daily subsistence upon the crumbs which
fell from the purse proud aristocral's la
bic. Monopoly was name unknown
among them Property was nearly equal
ly distributed, and almost every man, by
his own labor, on his own premises, pro-
cured for his own family, the food and
clothing necessary for their support and
comfort. But what is the condition of
our country now! DO the primal slmpli-
city and equality Of our ancestors con-
,inue 10 eXist2 Can we now, with JUS
tice, boast, that the condition and happi.
ness of the people Of our country, are so
vastly in advance OF those of the nations
Of EuIopc3 We fear not. The day Of
equal rights and privileges, even among
Americans. has past. Already we wit,
ness in each, but more particularly the
Eastern portion of these United States,
though, as compared with the nations Of
tho old world, yet in her infancy. the
existence Of huge and expressing mono.
polies--proud and privileged chartered
companies moneyed and nsolen, aris-
tocracy, whose dwellings are splendid
mansions gnificent palaces, more cost"
ly than those Of European monarchs -
'Nwho roll through the streets in gilded car
riages who lead lives of luxurious ease,
extravaganza and pronigacy, beyond the
mobiles of France or England. We see
also a vast multitude Of poor; honest, la
borous poor, whose daily labor procurcs,
and only procures, the daily bread for
themselves and families. The great body
Of the laboring classes in the eastern sec"
ton Of The Union are reduced to state
Of semi'vussalage--of servilude, to those
monied monopolisis. Scarce a week pas.
ses, during which, the papeis from that
qualtcr, do not bring US intelligence of
the renewed, continued, and increased
oppressive measures and exnctions of
these glasping millionaires, upon the
working men, the profits Of whose hard
earnings, are consumed, 10 support their
oppressors IN nfiluent ease. These evils
are not experienced here, as yet, to The
same extent; but il is only because we
are younger Things are tending tho
same way; and the result, unless avert.
ed, will eventually be the same. The
patriot, the philanlhropist, the republican,,