The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-18
THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE
FUTURE.

| gencer
THE PAST, THE PRESENT, AND THE
FUTURE.
The present condition of the Democratic par
| ty merits the calm, unprejudiced, but earnest
scrutiny of every lover Of free institutions It's
| from such spirit only that its principles and It's
DESTINY can be rescued from the overwhelming
catastrophe which all the signs of the times IN
dictate awaits it. The present juncture is EN-
phatically crisis in The career OF that patriotic
organization, under whose auspices this Krpub-
lie has attained degree OF prosperity, int
gence, and moral and physical power, IN space
of time unexamped, for the results achieved, "a
the history Of the world. Representing The pf'n
ciple which gave existence TO this People, and
which lays at the foundation Of our social and po-
li,ical supers,ruclure--that principle which, In
separable from Christianity as il is, has done so
much TO elevate mankind, and overturn the SUI
perstion and bigolTy Of the middle ages-repre-
sentng this principle, We repeat, the high and
sincere hopes and expectations Of every friend
of man centres in It's existence and prosperity.
There is no virtue in the practice, TOO usual
among political leaders, of holding up false
prints" TO deceive the honest and credulous
masses, touching the prospects, Designs and re-
iative strength OF parties. II is due to the People
that the truth should be always told. Ii is worse
than idle, thereiore-t is criminal--to deny that
the Democratic party at the present moment Is
in imminent danger OF a rout, similar 10 that OF
1910 There is this difference, however: that
while, by a dispensation Of Providence, the
principles Of the party were saved from the
consequences of the events Of 1910 now they
are menaced with destruction. The Wings
will not again elect a sta esman schooled al the
iootstoo of the sage of Monticello. The strug
| gle Of 1874 will send no second John Tyler 10
the capital, 10 watch over and guard the work
of Jefferson and Madison Henry Clay will
come the pledged champion of all those ultra
notions of the Federal chooI against which the
Republican phaIanx has contended ever since
the foundation of the Republic. And that he
riilcome, perhaps as The reluctant choice Of the
People Of the Union, still the preferred alter
native OF very large majority OF the People, if
Mr. Van Buren, be his competitor, we firmly
| believe.
This opinion is not confined to US, but is en-
tertained by the most sagacious members of the
Democratic party in and out of Congress
Even the especial adherents of Mr. Van Bu-
rem, many Of them at least, hesitate not to ex-
r-ess their doubts and msgivings on the subject.
Why then, should his nomination by the Bati.
more Convention be urged with the mpetuous
zeal which j. evinced by his friends Can il
be iha' the party and lis principles are Of 80 lit
tie value as 10 be rsked for mere personal OBJ
iecl7 Are the ambitious views Of the distin.
guished politician Of New York 10 be gratifed
though the overthrow Of the party be the con
) sequence Are such sacrifices due TO any one
member Of the Republican iamily7 Should
not doubt Of the result, or the consequence
TO the party, be conclusive against his nomina
toni Whatever may be our attachments OF
admiration for eminent public men, let u, no
loose sight ofthe truth, that parry does not de
rive its value from the persons who compose il
, nor its principles from the parry which uphold
them. Parties and their champions can 4,
claim to be sustained as Necessary agents 70
the enforcement and application of principles
They can have no claim to support when IA
very support which is asked cndangers all tina
is valuable IN political organizations Let il b
announced to the American People that pJir
cipies have ceased TO be the bond of union, an
8 their ascendency the object OF the Democrat
e party, and in month the party will itself ceas
VI TO exist. And vet what but an indirect procl.
= nation OF this fact will be the nomination of NJ
!, Van Buren, ? There are two modes of suppor
- ing Mr. Clay One is the open, honest aud d
=. rect vote for hm-ihe other is to insist upon va
II ing for an Antagonist who must be beaten !
M him.
SC The condition of the Democratic party at IA
RI Junclure, though anomalous is not without a ma
ogy. In 1924 the usages and machinery
is The party were equally perverted aud employ,
&c to tllwart the popular will. The result was
he revolt Of the great body OF the People, not rro
e the cause, bot from the Unacceptable bapn
and leader chosen ia caucus. The cand dat
Is Mr. Crawford, was not only discarded by Il
ID mass Of the party, but the very machinery Us,
E. in bis nomination was Indignantly broken
at pieces. Is there not reason TO apprehcnd that
r similar result awaits the forced action of II
I Baltimore Convention Will the People tam
Of " tolerate the deliberate insult TO their unde
a. standings involved in the nominationofs re
: utman against whom they pronounced, at Il
" Residential 81, ctlon, It'll a unapimty une