Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-04-28
From the New York Sun.
The Great Question Of these Times.

i The Edinburgh Review, in a severe bu
| just criticism IL Dickens famous Notes.
aI',ldes to America as country deeply inter
estng. because il is " the quarter from which
we mus, look for light on The great question
1T these times What is 10 become Of DEMo-
cRAcY. and how i, is to de dealt with -
The Review speaks truly when it calls this
the great question of the times and well
| would il be, net only for our own country. bu,
Tor the human family at large. il every Amer
ican citizen wcnId constantly bear in mind
tina, the whole world is silently looking h,her
and waiting for an answer TO this mornen,uous
| question. Each individual would then be i'm.
pressed with due sense Of the responsibility
under which he must think, decide, and aci,
IN all political matters. He would see tina,
interests Of vast and indescfibable magnitude
are to be effected for good or evil by his own
course Of conduct. Are We not all too forget
ful Of this important truth! Could any man
duly impressed with it. ever trifle with his high
privileges. or be guilty Of wan,only setting
an example which would call forth the mocke-
~ Of the enemies Of human liberty. and the
tears Of its friends, throughout the whole
world ?
II is the duty Of the American press to keep
This idea prominently be fore the public mind
We are trying the experiment Of self-govern.
ment. of liberty. Of Democratic equality. We
are endeavorin: TO show that han was created
for nobler purposes than slavery to his fellow
man. There are thousands in other countries
who regard This as visionary theory, and pre-
diet that it will end in anarchy and disgrace !;
there are millions now in bondage and chains.
dow"-'rodeen and oppressed. who earnestly
hope for different result. All who hate and
all lave H. ,boIo -,
u,an race, are exrlaming. in HE language Of
the Edinburgh Review" What is 10 become
of Democracy, and how is it to be dealt with!"
Are the free people Of this country aware
,ha, they are daily engaged in making up the
answer which is 10 be- given to this question
Do they constantly bear in mind that every
infracion Of law and order. every exhibition OF
party madness. every triumph Of passion over
reason. and all departure, however slight. from
the principles Of truth and justice on which
| our institutions rest, are watched with eagle
eyes, and Gang h,up as the sure evidences that
democracy is destined 10 destruction, and that
the true. way TO deal with it is 10 cut off its
head
proper appreciation of this subject could
not fail 10 add calmnes and dignity TO our
political discussions and 10 our bearing and
conduct as ireemen in every department Of life.
Orr statesmen. our judicial and executive
magistrates, our Legislators. the conductors OF
The par,izan press, the people in their primary
meetings, their nominating conventions, and a,
the polls, would feel inpeIed to act with JUS
tice. wisdom and frmness. The knavish
tricks Of politicians, the schemes OF intriguing
| cliqnes, THE frauds upon the ballot box. the
bitterness Of partizan newspapers, and hum
| dred other evils which now stain cur party
contests would meet stern and indignant re-
bike. In short let the American people al
| ways realize the true importance and dignity
! of their mission, and they will not fail to re-
turn satisfactory answer to '',he great qnes-
| ton of these times what is TO become of
Democracy and how it is 10 be dealt with e.