The Illinois free trader., 1840-12-25

tie better. To denounoe cheating, bribe-
~, and falsehood, when detected, and
suggest effective preventatives, will be a
leading object of the proposed paper.
In this the undersigned does not intend 10
be any respecter OF parties; for the man
who resorts to such means for the ac-
complishment of political ends, whatever
he may call himself, is no Democrat, and
is an enemy to the people.
,. Abuses of privileges and corruption
have made much progress in the legisla-
tive department of our Government, and
have occasionally shown themselves in
other departments. These, as far as
known, will be denounced, by whatever
party they may be practised. In every
abuse of privilege, OF undue exercise OF
power, the individual committing it strikes
a blow at public virtue, the only lasting
basis of free institutions
3. The principles of modern banking,
and the manner in which banks and pub
lie debts operate upon the labor, trade,
and property OF the community, are not
well understood. One of the chief OBJ
jects of this paper will be, by facts and
illustrations, to make these matters plain
to all who will read and discuss the pro-
posed remedies for existing evils. This
will involve an exposition of the nature
and uses of money, together with his
tory of the origin, progress, and effects of
paper money in Europe and America.
TO these win be added notice of all
new discoveries and inventions which
promise to be useful to mankind, as also
of facts, experiments, and Improvements
which may be instructive to the farmer
and mechanic; summary Of news, for
eign and domestic, carefully compiled,
constituting an accurate history of passing
events; abstracts of important public doc
uments, and miscellaneous matter, select
ed and original, instructive and entertain
ing. In fine, the object is to furnish
newspaper which will present 10 the far
mer, planter, mechanic, merchant, and all
other readers, the true interests Of those
who live by the cultivation Of the soil and
other laborious occupations Involving the
interests Of all useful trade, and incite
them always to regard those interests, in
voting for public agents; to inculcate that
honesty and truth should be the guide of
every man in public as well as private
life ; that a sacred regard for the rights of
property, as well as personal rights, is
essential to the happiness of man in a
state of society; that it is only through
a fair ballot that we should look for the
correction of existing evils, and the pre-
vention of those we fear; and that true
Democrat should never think of revolu-
ton by force until he finds himself depri-
we'd Of the right Of suffrage. OF the voice
Of the majority is pefseveringly stiAed by
fraud or fcrce at the polls.
Though thoroughly Democratic in prin-
ciple, this paper will not be made the ve-
hiclc Of ordinary electionccring matter,
nor will it engage in or admit mere perso-
nal controversies. 1t will not conceal It's
preferences for men or parties but will
seek TO influence results only by appeals
to reason, and through the instrumenlality
Of fact and argument.
That true Democrat ought never to
despair, is the first article in the under
signed's political creed Man is capable
of indefinite improvement in knowledge
and virtue. These are the bases Of De-
mocracy. If we know that he cannot
reach perfection, we know also that he
may become better than he is. Hope
and faith are the motives Of the Chris tian
teacher. They should be the stay and
stimulus of the Democrat. With HIM
they are strengthened by knowledge ; for
he sees and kao2r3 that man is advancing,
and may be made to advance more rapid
ly, in all those requirements which ena-
bic him to govern himself, Itawestcd by
force or fraud to-day, he will resume his
onward march tomorrow. BY degrees,
the great mass of men are becoming iamil-
lar with their rights and conscious Of their
power; they may become so well inform
ed that none will attempt to deceive them,
and so determined that none will dare to
assail them by force. TO aid in the i'm
provement of man is the highest remain
ing ambition of the undersigned. He has
seen much of the world, has had some
experience in public affairs, has witnessed
much human depravity, suffered some
wrong, and met with much to discourage
exerlions for the good of his country and
his race but never for moment has he
lost his faith in mans high destiny, or