The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-04-10
TENDENCY OF DEMOCRACY.

| an EIhdct from an 'dddreSs' denV-
cred before ke state C0nUeHtiOn Of Con.
necticut by Mr.. Geo. Bancroft
"The first aud most marked, the
characteristic tendency Of democracy,
lie towards improvement. Not bound
down by experience. not satisfied with
the results of the past, it is restless IN
Its struggles after advancement IN free
dom, IN equality, in public happiness,
in the widest extension of the bene6ts
of civilization. l. longs for brighter
and a happier fui1fity- ltdees not be-
leve that the legislators of old time have
established landmarks of civilization
have been constantly advancing. and
are destined TO be yet moro widely ex-
tended.
"Such was the faith of Jefferson, and
bis public life was in harmony with 1t.
His first act as a legislator was the ex-
preston of sympathy for the weakest
and most oppressed; denand for the
freedom Of emauclpating the enslaVed
American. His first acl in the Amerl>
can Congress, was TO write,in in letters OF
, light, the new doctrine OF the indepen-
dencs of America, and TO con-
nee, with that independence
the great ideas Of the rights of men.
His proclamation TO the world, on ta-
king the oath OF Office as president, was,
Freedom Of Inquiry, and the Power OF
the People; thatis. the right 10 discover
new truth, and 10 embody that truth III
a legislation; and in his latest old age,
r beautiful visions Of tho future still hoa-
ted before his eyes, and even to the hour
I Of death, IN the calm serenity that
4 springs from faith in human progress,
he gave up his spirit 10 Goo, from whom
1t emanaled; with the tranqullzng
words, Now, Lord, lettest thou thy ser
U want die in peace
This constant hope Of progress is
denounced dy our opponents as teslruc-
d tive ofpresent institutions; war against
the past. But IN truth, Democracy Is
f not destructive; she makes 10 war on
a the past; she plans 40 overthrow ofthe
y present, On The contrary, she gamers
Y up and bears along with her all the tru'bs
: which past generations have discovered;
she will not lei go one single idea, not
q one prnciple, not one truth. She has
an honest lineage she is, under GODS
Ie providence. the lawful offspring of I'D
J, vancIng humanity, and she claims at
,s her rishtlu inheritance The glorious IN
ventions, the rich discoveries ofthe past
=, But Democracy does not, like the EgyE
-. lians, embalm the dead; size does no
:. bear long with her decayed institutions
= errors that have inflicted on themselves
~. their own death blow. She leaves the
d self styled conservative TO stsgger along
under the accumulated supers,lIions ant
II wasting structures of past centuries
to totter under the pitles of Charters tha
), have expired, Of contracts that have
q been broken; and che herself keeps or
\ her course, having for her companlon'
~ all the noble Institutions which rest
= self-sustained, in their own integrity
+ and for the guaranty Of her success, th'
, natural immortality Of truth, and the ev'
- - er-sctive providence Of God.
-. al know that this faith 10 mans ad
:, vancement is by many, esteemed Wis
;, ionsry; | know that many Of our OPpo
/, nen,s assert, that immense difference
in between the favored classes and lh'
. ,oilsome children Of labor, is the orde
~ of Providence; that the history Of thu
;. future, like the history of the past, mus
:. show the largest number in state o
" - ignorance and suffering, and all the ben
" efits Of civilization the exclusive enjoy
mept of the few. The argument, as ia
as it regards society, is refuted by facts
II Each year has given 10 humanity. new
:" y trophies, in its efforts to diffuse the ben
- e6ts of freedom. At this momen
:" :" throughput our whole country, the high
~ ~ az, activity prevails in the public min
~ ~ to check, on the one hand, every ten
!, Jency to exclusiveness in legislation
81 =, and on the other, to assert, for ever
in class ofthe community, its right to tn
" equul benefits Of our institutions.
a. "But the faith in advancement admit
of noble justification. II rests on tn
N highest elements Of morality; is blen
i ded with all that is noble in human ma
N n ,ure; and, far from being the faith q
~ - fanatics and vlsionaries, We avow, as
part of our democratic creed, that tbi
b faith is essential to the character Of
ne ne good practical t tesm' n; that every tru
- ly great legislator is not limited in th
- action Of his mind to experience, TO ex
Nv amples, 10 decide oases, but acknowl
- edges that there 10 an ideal which state
.. and nations should strive to realize.
- "To any one who admits the distinC
a. tions Of morals, this proposition is caps
A. n = L.