Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1843-12-19
PROSPECTUS OF THE
Western Democratic Re-
,.'.. view, p
AND MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
|. B. TAYLOR, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.

/
| A T no period in American history have
! IA those moral influences, which mould and
fashion society,and work out great BLASTING re-
suits in social and political eoRdition, been in
Elore active operation than at the present e.
pooh. And while this remark is just in regard
to our country generally. it applies, with pecu-
liar emphasis, to society in the Great West.-
There is among the people ofthis vast Region,
robust spirit and energy, not yet thoroughly
natioRalized, capable of being formed into
national chararter more elevated ana grand
than any the world has yet seen; possessing
] all the dignity and stemness of the old Ro-
man, without his rudeness; all the polish of
theanc ient AtheniaR, without hseffemincmcy lin
short, chart cter thoroughly AMERICAN. Ills
tie Office of the Statesman and Philosopher to
seize on these elements of character, give
them proper direction, and finally shape them
into an order ofuurivaled beauty and magnif-
l'csnce. Such elevation of character, and such
a sublime moral condition, Of the people of this
Great Western Empire, are capable of realiza-
| tion The Yiniuence of an ably onducted
Magazine, established in the heart ofthe Miss
ipsippi Valley, would exercise, in the ACHIEVE
Tuent of these great objects, must be apparent
to every observer.
| No social element is so active in producing
these glorious results, AS the Democratic Ptin-
ciple, which pervades the hearts of our people.
Il is this principle which is working out a new
order of society in our country, establishing
novel poiticot institutions, stamping upon
man new character, influencing our LegisIa-
tion, and is revoiutiOnizing all that pertains
to man in his social and political condition,
| 1t is because of the stubbornness and energy
with which this principle moves onward, de-
motishing what hoary error had treasured up,
and grapplng, with its strous hand, every in.
stitution and law which savors Of exclusive
privilege, that some timid aud uuphilosophical
spirits are sieZed with alarm; aNd startle at
imaginary hSrrOrs. They see, in Imagination,
ALI the wild terrors of the French Revelation
re enacted, and all the beauty and harmony of
Civil Society, turned into furiuOs discord. But
such individuals ShouLd be admOnished, that
the Democrtie principle is the true principle
of Conserva atism; that it aims at the censerva-
tiOn Of mans rights, by the destruction of ev-
cry institution which would silently, but sure.
ly, purIoin them; that its first care is MAN and
his FREEDOM, believing all political theories but
heresies, which are not based upon this broad
foundation. This is the only just and rational
meaning of the term Conservation, as applied
to our political Csndition.
Democracy is new element in civilization,
or, perhaps, it may be more proper to say,
that ii is developing itself in new
Various opinions are entertained as 10 its ultI-
mate effects upon our social and political con-
dition, but every phiosophic observer must a
gree, that whatever are to be its ultimate ef-
fects, it isan active and powerful principle. Our
own opinion is, that, under proper direction, 1t
has great and priceless treasure in store for
} mankind; that it is the companion of true
! Christianity; that it is the spirit of benevo-
lsnce applied to man in his social and politi-
cal capacity; and that it is destined to elevate
the American character to a pitch of moral
! gran deur unequaled in ihe history of the
: past.
Thus believing, to- this end shall our hmm
BILE laboFs be directed. 1t will be our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embody. in
| philosophical disquistions, free from offensive
2 partisan bitterness, such sentiments as tend
I to the realization of this golden hope. And in
order to this, our work viii be thoroughly Dem.
octatic in princi lie and in sentiment. Such
I. great questions as shall I, from time to time
/ agitate the public mind, will be calmly and
i nationally reviewed, by the ublest pens of the
. West.
Besides our political department portion
cf our Magazine will be devoted to such well
written essays as will be of general interest ant
value to the people of the Mississippi Valley
for il is intended to make ita Western, ant
not All Ohio Periodical only. The Geography
Geology. Statistics, and History ofthe Vale,
will receive especial attention; for it, is be-
D lieved that these a e imperfetly understood By
the country generally, and our boundless re-
: sources, not yet half developed, are not proper
3 ly appreciated; otherwise the improvement o
1 our nsv;gabIewalerswould not be grossly neglect
) ed by the General Government,
In connection with the foregoing depaFtmen
of the Western Democratic Review, vii
2 be orr aim TO make it, in a literary point o
/: view, worthy the patronage of an enlightsne,
: public; butit will be our purpose, also, to max
il food for the reason and judgment, rathe
: than tho fancy; to make it, in short,a work 3
real utility to the Statesman, Philosopher, an
i to all who shall peJuse its pages.
n It is intended, also, 10 devote q portion o
each number TO Biographical Sketches of dis
, tinguished Western Statesmen.
. The principal design, however, 10, to supply
II as far as comes withinthe scope Of such worl
n that great deaderatun, a Democratic Liters
ture. 1t has long been a source of rsgret,
distinguished Democrats. that most of I'll
highest efforts Of genius have BEEN wasted i
attempts that serve to make Fictitious distint
tions Ia society and GovIument, that tend to d
= 1press the masses; and hence, to onervate Il
70 humnn rlind. The necessity ola literatu
is that sympathizes with the ''toiling millions
"a Is as apparent, that comment is gratutous ;it
Is one Of the wants ofthe age Indeed, we nee
- not dilate upon the Importance of such a wor
% nor undertake. 10 demonstrate its necessity.
le These considerations will readily occur to eve
n thinking mind. The influence of work viii
9 gives form and feature to public sentiment, al
~ emb0dies the Ranaral thrrt-A& <Rd aSSYhoatE td