The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-04
DEMAGOGISM.

A man that works on feeling and prejudice,
without reason. for political ends, is dema-
gogue. press that prompts and nourishes
such moral trash is of the same character The
symptoms of demagogism, in the political noun
tebank, are certain cant words and phrases,
which rouse the feelings, but lead to no refec-
ton. In the press il is manifested in the same
way, with this addition, that, instead of empha-
sis of voice and manner, which characterize the
mountebank in the utterance Of his key note
words and phrases, il employs large staring capt.
| tails and italicised words. For example, look
into the Globe and Exposition. These articles
are intended to strike the senses, not the mind.
The people of this country had long been i'm
posed upon in this way. But the year 1910
was an epoch in our history, which brought the
people back TO reflection and common sense
The Globe, Kendall's Exposition, and other
Loco-foco prints are still at their old tricks
Look on their sheets, and behold the CAPT.
TAILS, the itdiicised sentences, Explanations,
cant words, cant phrases, and other demagogi-
cal articles Of the kind But it is too late
The American people think now.
There was for example, the old song of foreign
influence and British gold-al used up the mo-
ment it was proved to have bought up an army
Of Loco-focos, inasmuch as it was no great COM
pliment to the party. 1t proved too much to be
palatable. That cry, kept up by demagogues
and demagogical press, once had great infu-
ence. Now it has none, as the people are averse
to libel passed on themselves. Neither Ben
toms denunciations, nor the Globes screaches,
nor Kendalls staring capitals, nor ever so many
italics produce one bit Of effect, they intend
but the contrary The people see and under
stand.
NATIONAL BANK is now held up in CAPT
tails as a horri6c sign, just at time when it
seems to operate rather as lure than terror.
The people are beginning to think" Well,
after ALL we did well with national bank, and
have done very badly since we had none. II
the Government can give us good and safe
one, constitutional, and send to the penitentiary
or hang the first and every officer that IS ac-
commodated out of the bank with which he is
connected, well try it again. Huzza for Ma
tional Bank on such terms" Ii we do not mis-
take. there is strong current of popular feeling
setting that way just now, the only remedy
for our commercial, monetary, financial, and
fiscal disasters. No use, Amos, Blair, Rives
Go, in parading capitals, and setting up
italics against the current. The tune Of Dema-
gogues pals on the public ear The people want
reason, common sense, not big words, high
sounding phrases and appeals. to feeling. Old
prejudices are assuming new shapes Better
handle them cautiously.
II is remarkable, that all the demagogical cant
that has been of so much avail in the politics Of
this country, is loosing its influence. They who
trade in that species of capital, if not content TO
go into an honest business, must make a new
shift, and get up something new. When they
have got so far as TO be forced to exclam in des-
pair, like Amos, in his Expositor, "merciful
Godw 1--WE beg pardon for such profanity, but it
seems necessary 10 show what trouble they are
in) il may be well for them, and time for them
either to repent, or go off on another tack.
We congratulate the people of this country
for these symptoms, that demagogism is getting
to be appreciated. The people wont hear il;
they are Disguised with it; they are nauseated TO
the very bottom of their stomachs. They want
good, sound, common scnse-practical measures