The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-07-16
OUR PRINCIPLES.

"The Democracy" say Mr. Collector OF customs
at Boston, Bancroft, in brilliant but most !allac'
ious Address of Van Buren, State Convention to
the People or Massachusetts, "is the cause OF nope
of Progress-of Reform" Mr. Bancroft define
throughout /; il erred only in combining that De-
mocracy to the Van Buren, party. There are men
who at heart true Democrats in the Van buren,
party-we know many such land we like their De-
mocracy, while we detest the base purposes which
by designing leaders it il made to subserVe but
Democracy is not monopolIzed by that party
There were pious, devout men among the ancient
Pharsees but Phariseeism did not embrace all
the religion of the age, though such was Its preen-
andi earnest belief 1t is Just so in the pres
ent case. When we see man Wanting OF his
Democracy, and stigmatizing those who think diff
ferently from him with regard to public men or
measures Aristocrats we cannot help suspecting
that his Democracy is counterfeit, butlt does not
follow that all of his party must be like him. De-
mocracy is a sentlment-a prnciple-an esse nee
and spurns all party lines and factious trammehngs
1t cannot be hedged in by the devices and low arts
Of those who would make it capital to trade up
and stalking horse to carry them into Office
1t is free as the winds of heaven Whenever we
find an advocate Of Universal Education, Univer.
sal Suffrage, and Equal Rights secured by Equal
Laws, we know there is true Democrat, let Fac
ton nickname him as it may. We mean that with
these principles strong warm within him, he
must be at heart Democrat, however warped and
perverted in his acts and associations. He may be
found strangely acting with the supporters of col
lossa Executive Power, in sustaining arbitrary We.
toes, despotic Removals from Office, and an extern
sion OF Patronage which Inc trainers OF our
Government would have regarded with horror
He may be found banded with those who pract-
cally exalt the President above Congress-Ono
Man above three hundred--chosen equally with
him to guard the rights and advance the interests
of the whole PROFESSIONALLY faithful, and respon-
sible-sometmes more than equally capable. lie
may be found lending his voice and vote to meas
ure tending to unite the unlimited control Of the
Purse of the Nation with that of the Sword, and
putting both in the hands of the high functionary
who, with his present control over the hopes and
Coar and livpli Of ~ nd
office-holders and his unrestricted re-egbili-
ty is already invested with far of the sub
stanal attributes Of kingly power than are the SOW
ereigns of Liberal Europe. All this is possible
not that these acts in themselves can be Democrat
ic-far from it-they are the reverse, the deadly
bane OF Democracy-but human knowledge is i'm
perfect and human judgment fallbie. The heart
is often in the right place, when the head is cloud
ed or perverted. We have known men the wor-
shippers-nay, idolaters-o the greatest despo the
world ever knew, who were yet themselves in heart
Republicans.
But true Democracy is the cause of Hope and
we hope with it, We hope Yet to see the day,
when throughout fair land every child shall be
educated, and every man fully guaranteed not only
the nominal rights pertaining to him as man and
the equal of any man, but the knowledge which
ehali enable him those rights wisely and
for the highest good of the whole People We
hope, Through the wider extension and more perfect
application of the great Democratic principle of
Self Government, TO see Error, Vice and Misery in
great measure eXtirpated from the land, and ev-
cry man recognized and regarded as the equal OF
the most fortunate of his fellow men. Such are
1.-The just results of the Democratic principle, and
we hope every year may hasten their achievement
The Democracy is the of Progress. It's
sympathes and exerions are given to Schools Col
lcges, Lyceums, Railroads, and whatever may i'm
prove the int elle tual moral or physical condition
Of man. 1t reoices in every addition to the smass
pies petty distractions us m8tfS is uIh YmialR
great Bacon, Fruit Progress in every good, lis
law of its being.
True Democracy is pre-. eminenty the of
Reform. 1t is the deadly foe of Corruption, of Pee
ulaton, Of overwhelming Executive Patronage and
office holders managing and debating in elections
Of all the monstrous violations of the Democratic
principle the spectacle of an army of oiceholders
watching over and directing the political move
ments of the People, packing the jury which is to
investigate their fidelity and honesty and tamper-
ing with its judgment, is most outrageous. De-
inocracy insists to tribunal, and to this end that
it be utterly freed from all selfish and personal in
fuences. 1t will yet yndicnte this principle in the
utter discontinue of those who resist it.
Such IS the Democracy which we advocate aud
contend for. If not so spacious and self-vaunting
the tawdry counterfeit which has long
usurped its name, it will he found far condu-
Give to the welfare and to the Liberties of the
Country. Y Wing.