The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-11-20

we have said. the supremacy Of man. This
supremacy is attained only by the broadesi
freedom. The American idea. under another
aspect. then, is that OF liberty. The truly
American party always rallies around hequick-
ening idea Of liberty. No man can have the
hardihood to pretend. that liberty is the idea,
the wings are struggling to bring out The
whis party is NOT particularly anxious to sustain
or extend liberty, even according to its own ac-
count. Its sole objects taken as its own wit
bess are the preservation Of the Union of the
States, and the support of the credit system. la
this, il is true to itself IL Is the business party
OF the country, and ii is, and must be true TO
its idea. The Union of the States was, and is
desirable. almost solely on account Of the inter
ests oftr,dc and commerce. 1t facilitates trade
between the different States, and gives us an
imposing aspect, which favors our foreign com
merce. Take away the aid. which the Union
OF thel States gives to trade and commerce,
aud the wings would estimate its value some
what below par. Their cry about the preserva-
ton of the Union. does not, then, proceed from
their anxiety to maintain freedom, but TO pre-
serve certain advantages to trade. IL is in fela-
ton to its bearing on business operations. that
they wish TO sustain the credit system. So
that their dominant idea, according to their own
showing. is the preservation or increase Of IA
ciliiies Tor business operations. They pursue
business of course, Tor the purpose OF accumu-
iatirs property. So in the last analysis the
tominent idea OF the wings is not Man. but
PRoPERTY and the contest between them and
the democracy was rightly declared by MIR.
Benton te be a contest between MAN and
MONEY,
Asthe @hig party is the party seeking to give
pfedoninance not TO the idea Of freedom, but
10 the idea of property, the protection Of which
4 r. Az. h. . tba anI Infu nj
follows. that the democratic party is the party
of freedeu, or else we have no such party IN
This country. Its history proves that II is. In
all controversies, il taxes the side of libetty. In
the convention which framed the Federal Con
sfitution. il opposed ceniralism, and defended
State rights. In the conventions which have
framed our State constitutions, il has always
favored those classes, which leave the most lib |
crty to the people, and best protect the rights
of the Individual In the great struggle be- |
tween the aristocratic and democratic elements
OF European society, which broke out IN the |
French Revolution, and which has been con
tinued, with various success. even 10 our own
times it has always sympahized with the peo-
pie, and rejoiced in their successes. It's sym
pathies were with France 50 long as France
represented the democracy; while the wings,
ar federslists, sympathilcd with England, as
rhe representative Of the aristocracy. In the
late unsuccessful struggle Of the Canadians for
independence, the democratic party has been
true to its idea Of liberty. IL has given them
its syInpathies and its prayers, and trusts yet to
see the Canadas free and independent nation.
The day Of emancipation yet fingers. but il will
come and we shall have great and noble peo-
pie for our Northern ncighbor.
The democratic party has always been faith
fal TO freedom Of mind and conscience, the ba-
sis of all freedom. 1t has always opposed every
thing even approaching a religious establish
ment, and contended, that mans intercourse
with his Maker should be free and voluntary.
IL has opposed all test laws. and uniformly !,
irowned upon every effort to modest man for
his opinions. Ii inserted in the Federal Con-
sIitution the amendments, which forbid Con-
gress To establish religion. or to pass any Law
prohibiting freedom of speech, or of the press.
1t opposed the elder Adams and his party, be-
cause. in their Alien and Sedition Laws, they
proved themselves the enemies Of free thought,
and free utterancc and it raised Thomas JEFF
ierssn to the Presidential chair, because he was
the Hnfinchins friend Of freedom Of mind. 1t
has always said, with Milton, Let truth and
talsehood grapple. Who ever knew truth put
TO the worse in free and open encounter! Her
confCting is the best and surest suppressing."
The democratic party is the Christian party. |
Christianity is revelation Of Gods mercy TO
man, Ii is always on the side Of Freedom and
Humanity. II addresses man as endo~e ed with !
the capacity to Judge of himself what is or is !
not right. Democracy is based on the fact,
taat man does really possess this capacity
Christianity, by addressing itself to all men
necessarily recognizes this capacity in every
mIn democracy, by defending universal suf-
frige. does the same. Christianity values man
for his simple humanity, not for his trappings,
the accidents of birth. wealth, or position; so
does democracy. Christianity aside from its
design to fl the individual for communion with
the blest after death, seeks to introduce new
order Of things on the earth, to exalt the hum
bic. abash the proud. TO establish the reign OF
justice, and enable every man to " sit under his
own vine and fig-tree, with none to molest or
make afraid !" and who knows not that this is
the aim aud tendency Of the democratic party
The democratic party is the party Of pro-
gress.--This is involved in what has already |
been said party gathers round an idea, or
principle, whic b is its life, IFS soul. That idea
a can never abandon. and live; nor can it ever
receive a new idea. without losing its identity.
F left to ITSELF it will unfold. exhaust its idea
aud having done this. it dies. Thus, English
whie gism, having exhausted its original idca
having found its euthanasia, in the Reform
Bill. has gone the way Of all the earth, and is
suffered TO lie in state still. merely because
neither Tories nor Radicals are prepared to as
sumo the responsibility Of heirs, aud give it
burial. The wings in this country are demon
strating the same law. The idea, around
which they gather is offensive to majority Of
the American people. This the more discern
ing of our whig friends perceive, and therefore,
they would fam change the doctrines Of the
party. They have even tried to make it pass
for the democratic party. Vain efforts! They
may change its name. receive into its ranks
many, who once thought themselves republ-
cans, aud submit TO be led on by men. who
once enjoyed the confidence Of the democracy
but nothing can change its character; its iden
tity remains; and your Lincolns, SeIdens,
nnana- Na,,,l.rclr trall.xnnner anil R,re.nr