The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-21
From The Patriot d Democrat
WHAT is DEMOCRACY7


A perfect Democracy, it has long since been justly
observed, permanently exist in a Of
cety and morals which requires the restraints Of Co
yernment at all The abstract principle of Democracy,
then, in strict sense cannot be carried out in GO
yernneps Of any considerable consequence Of impor-
lance. When we speak OF Democracy IN this country,
therefore, must take things they and treat Of
it in the proper sense of the term What, them is De-
mocracy1 We shall give the answer, in the language
Of orcble writer in the JefeIsonian" II is an es-
seneca doctrinea principle" II imports that oil
men are of right free and equal"not equal in worldly
advantages nor in physical perfection in wealth in
beauty, moral worth in intellectual power II it
affirmed either Of these last propositions, it wonld assert
manifest absurdty. Every one knows that in know
ledge in virtue in fidelity, in honor, in fortune in
strength in height, men differ as do in size the trees
Of the forest the fish Of the Democracy pro-
claims no such serepued folly 1t only asserts that
each has equal right to be esteemed wise, vir
tuous and honorable according to his conduct-that
each to be respected, not according to his rank and
in life, but his behavior in that statonnot
cording to the good torture which has outwardly be-
fallen him. but that which he has deserved 1t main
tains as fundamental truth, that each member Of a
community shall have fair free and equal voice in the
making or changing Of those laws by which that
munly governed and that the fact that each has had
such voice, and has virtually consented to obey such
laws the majority shall deem expedient, Of the
necessary conditions Of his implicit obedience, without
which could not be justly exacted In short, it de-
have his due weight the adjusting Of any regulation
which is to govern his future conduct or limit his natu
raj rights. It's great axiom is that majority OF all
those be affected by political municipal regulation
shall first give their consent to its enactment and that
without this its enforcement is tyranny and usurpaton
I've have thus stated, simply and clearly pos
sble what Democracy Is The readers reflections
will aid materially in determining irhat IL is not and
discriminating between the essential thing and the false
preiences which its is oentimes invoked to cover
Obviously, IS mol charm 70 be weldedan estate to
be inhered-a discovery to be Fatented-or name
be perpeuated without reference to the essential
thing OF which it the symbol There magic and
no mystery about it. Calling man a Democrat with
out reference to this great principle and his action IN
support oft, absurd to call horse Christian
The term implies the advocacy Of certain fixed and
we-known principles, and when applied to man or
meaning sssRss*s-#esesvr ts5ab N
Now we wish our readers to take this plain and COM
mon sense view Of Democracy, which must carry
yction of its truth to every honest mind and compare
carefully with the principles upon which the present adj
mnistration are acngprlncipes which are claimed by
its friends TO be purely Democratic-and see If they
have lost sight Of the principle by following unmean
ing profession, and whether they have not, in the be-
wllderng whr Of party politics. completely lost the
spirif, though they may have assumed the dppediOn
Of Democrats! For ourselves we are bold to say that
the claim Of the administration that they acting upon
Democratic ground is most unfair, unjust and decep
tive We believe that those who, for the present, have
in keeping the destines OF this great Republic, at
tempting under the name OF Democracy and by the aid
Of bringing the patronage Of the Government into con-
ict with the freedom Of elections" to force upon the
people of the most andemocratic and dan
gerous tendency that ever conserved since the
foundation Of our ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS full OF danger
to the people and their best interests, and which will
change the whole character and genius Of institutions
The people should remember that "power IS always
stealing from the many TO the few" and that 1.-THE
anFl ,c IoIlap hpv
therefore, take nothing for granted-they should let
professions pass them the idle wind, while they
should examine with the strctest scrutiny the m0fiUes
and princpies-they should recoect that Robespiere,
Danton and Marat Of France cried liberty and equality
while the best blood Of that beautiful country was flow
ing by their order in rivers upon the guilotine.
But in what does the Democracy of the present adj
minslration which is so much camored about, con-
sis, Does it consist in immoating every individual
upon the altar of Executive prescription who does not
show the knee Baa" and yield service support to
all the mad and "disorganzing schemes conceived by
the President Is it to be found in the policy that
toleates freedom Of opinion or discussion, and which
requires Of freedom yielding up Of their independence
and a suppression Of the honest dictates oil an honest
heart! Is it illustrated by requiring from the people
savsh obedience to the dication of clique Of U. S.
otceholders whose only ambition 1t IS to aggrandize
themselves by acting the part of door-keepers to all the
avenues to Executive favor! Does Democracy consist
merely in sustaining the administration, rtg or tcrong!
docs our Government differ from dcspotism? il the
administration recommends exclusive metallic currency,
according this creed it is democracy to sustain It, II
it issues shin. plasers in the shape OF Treasury notes,
without any specie basis still it is democracy to sus
tain it. If promise to " create CON-" according to
this doctrines democracy TO cry aloud for eagles and
yellow boys" II it set up paper mandatory 1t is
democracy to declare redeemabe government paper the
best "possibe currency" If this notion prevails, it
must be democracy in Mr. Speaker Polk to give the
casting vote for the late Treasury note BILL and II is
democracy in the immaculate Benton to "dodge the
question: on this very bill after declaring that he would
never again vote for issue of Government paper IL
is democracy in 1884 to denounce the Sub-Treasury
scheme and euogise the State banks II is democracy
in 1888 to euogze the former and denounce the latter
Under all former administrations of the Government, II
was democracy as much possible 10 curtai and d.
minsh Executive influence and patronage-uEder the |
present administration il is democracy TO strive to IN
crease Executive power beyond the limits OF the Consti
tuition and the safety Of the country Formerly il was
dcmocracu 10 watch carefully and take every means to
preserve State Rghtsnow it is democracy to attempt
to destroy the sovereignty Of the States, and to create
virtual consolidation Once it democracy to allow
differences OF opinion and tolerate when truth
was left free TO combat 1t is democracy TO re-
fuse the right Of conscience, to punish all freedom Of
opinion and to resist practically the will OF the mao
nty.
But we will pursue this subject no farther In the
language Of the able writer in the Jecrsonan above
Quoted "if we have suggested 10 any clearer idea OF
what Democracy is and what it is notof the essence
as contradstnpushed from the base which are
made Of the name, shall have accomplished our pur'
pose. Kind reader are you troubled with any uoupls
whether the appellaon Of Democrat may rghtiuy DC
applied TO youi You may solve them by answering 70
Yourself these simple questions Are you willing that
all should enjoy The same measure Of freedom as
Won desire for Yourself and TO conform to all the re-