The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-21
THE DEMOCRACY.

oo4pr THE DEMOCRACY. rl
Never was there any thing more preposterous
than the exclusive claim set up by the friends
of Mr. Van Buren's Administration to the title
ofthe ''democracy." Led on by a set OF old fash
Toned federalsts who, for the sake OF place, en-
listed themselves under the banner OF General
Jackson, The rank and file Of the party have for
many wears past been made the willing instru-
ments of carrying out measures the very reverse
of the doctrines which they affect to entertain.
We have often heard of the might the magic
of a name, but never did we see the force of the
expression SO thoroughly illustrated as in the
transforming power possessed by the term de-
, mocracy. No matter how ultra-federal mea-
sure may be, and subversive of every thing like
democratic principles, it is only necessary for
these gentlemen to introduce it with a good
hearty shout of democracy" to render it all that
can be desired by their followers who never take
the pains to think for themselves. In times
gone by, the iustrious head of ''the party" per-
hitting himself to be surrounded by designing
men ofthe old federal, anti-Jefferson stamp, who,
working upon his honest and unsuspecting ma
ture made him believe that black was white, gave
himself up to their guidance, and without know
ing it, lent the sanction ofhisauthority to opinions
that would make disciple of the school of '98
blush even to think of them. Did a set OF en-
terprising men, of moderate MEANS associate
themselves as bankers, under charter for con-
venience in transacting business the associa-
ton so formed was called moneyed monopoly,
whilst, if millionaire made use of his means to
the exclusion of all competition, he was the best
democrat in the world If the honest Ameri-
can manufacturer happened to ask for such pro-
lection as should place him on fair footing, as
to remuneration for his labor, with the foreign
operative, he was told that it was anti-democra-
tic, and the product of his labor was thrown
aside. that the wealthy capitalist might shine
out in the fabrics of British looms at price
shade cheaper than would have existed had
duty been imposed on the imported article-yet
this was genuine American democracy. The
doctrine was unblushingly published, that all
credit was to be exploded, and hard money
circulation was to be exclusively adopted, that
prices might be brought to specie standard,
whereby the wages ola day laborer were to be re-
d
while the of1ice-holder and the wealthy man
were to have all the benefit Of these depressed
rates in building palaces, and yet this was
called "denaocracy dyed IN the 1cool," and the
People were so weak as to suffer themselves to
be guided by the empty cry. When the appeals
of distress were coming from every quarter OF
this wretched country, and when men approach
II oh ~, n IF
ceiving some succor from the General Govern
ment, begging that the national treasure might
be made useful to the business interests OF the
People, Mr. Van Buren, in his sober second
thoughts told the supplicants at his footstool
that the Government, meaning OF course the
horde of greedy dependents on the public boun-
ty, must take care of ITSELF and that the People
must do the same, and yet this was imPudently
called democracy, and foolishly believed to be
such by the dupes of name. Nor was this all
this outrageous effrontery was bostered up by
adducing examples, from abroad, OF Kingdoms
and empires, where the Governments are sui
fered to sauander the millions wrung from the
hand of hardy toll in gratifying the most de-
grading lusts, to prove that such was the proper
such foul, barefaced imposition and yet this was
called pure democracy The People, iorsooth,
were to replenish the national Golfers, and ii
thew dared to ask for The use Of rhat aoas hel''
o,pu.ethey were to be told that they must take
care of themselves-the Government had no
sympathy for the popular agonies, while the pro-
ducing classes from which every dollar that
80, Of ofIIc al IVA
derived, must toll on and had no right to look to
the REGIMENTS of their bounlies for even the
nse Of portion of what they had freely
bestowed. Yet this was democracy. If so, 1t
was athe democracy" of heartless, selfish men,
who cared as little for the sufferlngs OF the ma
ton as thew would for the agonies of the worm
which they crushed under their feet, provided
their own ravenous appetites for the spos were
satisfied In order to effect a total and lrrevoca-
ble divorce between the great mass Of Amerl-
c,n freemen and the parasites OF power, the
Suh-Treasurv, the 'Independent Treasury,
as il was vauntingy styled, was established SO
that tie pap Of the Treasury should be kept by
;t.stf. - heyond the reach OF the ignoble and
unGri1ua.ds hands of the profane vulgar, that
wt1jdxtlepp be hewers of wood and drawers aver
Of Tn i We should like to know what an
independent Treasury means. Where or wna'
would the Treasury of this country be, tha
would be independent Of the People, by the
sweat of whose brows the Government is sus
tanned? Such impudent arrogance reminds III
Of the "divine right of kings" so long and 81
Justly exploded in almost every monarchlca
Government of Europe, more than any thing