The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-11-11
THE DEMOCRATIC AND "wHIG" PRESSES


For some months past, we have been most
forcibly struck with the great contrast between
the tones of the Democratic AMI Federal news
papers--and, with no perhaps illogical deouc-
lion. we have ascribed the difference TO the dis
similar objects the two parties are laborng TO
promote. The great Republican party of the
Union, now, as ever, urgent Tor the es'aplish
ment of the eternal truths of their creed, advo-
cate its cause with calm philosophy and per
suasive logic. The purpose of their exer'ions
tinctures their language: their language CORES
ponds with the dignity OF their aims Seiec-
ton among the efficient organs Of the Republl-
cans may seem invidious, and where excellence
is for the most part general, lines OF discrlmina-
ton must necessarily be indistinc.. we can
not. however, forbear few remarks IN relation
10 the character and the conduct ofhree presses,
for no short period most distinguished TOR the
prnciples they have professed, and for the ability
with which they have advocated them. II is
perhaps unnecessary for us to declare our aluslon
to the Richmond Enquirer,the Albany Argus, and
10 the present and former Patriot OF Isaac HILL
From the first we imbibed the principles OF the
faith. we hope ever to cherish in our earlier
DAVIS we lisped them fresh in their original
beauty, they have accompanied US, like guar
dian angels, as we have grown older IN the ways
of policy. The second has afforded US no new
er revelation, but rather a confirmation OF The
truths of the old, more fully, il may be, descan-
ed upon, though with no greater semblance OF
t., IL, hrd we havn with less
abstruse cogitation, with less refinement In
,hought-certainly with no inferior epergy, and
with greater condensation. To US, to borrow
the language of the poet
"Every press became
An academy of HONOR"
from whose pages, replete with sound political
doctrines, we fed the cravings Of an hungry
mind.
Compare such papers with their philosophy
calcxpositions, their close ratocinaton and their
agreeable dic,ion, with their contemporaries
of different failh,-the Richmond Enquirer,
with Peasants ribad journal-the Albany
Argus with the Courier. and Enquirer-HllPs
Patriot with any Federal paper 10 New Eng
land-and what a contrast is exhibited Ii
our journals we meet with we'll selected sub
jects ably Observation-Disclosures of the proprle
ties Of lfe-sometmes veins of pregnant wit
not unfequent touches OF severe satire, attacking
vicious principles, irrespective OF their persona
Embodiment. In the Federal papers we "sul
full'' of low, vulgar abuse, coarse denuncialion'
of often times meritorous individuals, disgrace
full attacks on each other, where mutual crimes
are forso often in exaggerated language, disgust
ing illusions, incorporate feelings-never an!
arguments-sedom even attempts at reasoning
So that it would appear, from careful untlret
review of such productions, that " Whig'' edl
tors seem to apprehend the same fate from gen
,lemanly language and delicate conduct as tn
ferryman of Sinbad the sailor from the ulteranc
of holy expression.
We intend pursuing the subject at NOR
Convenient season."