The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-03-30
From The Penn Yam Democrat
WHAT Is DEMOCRACY;

We formerly could answer this question as readi.
ly as any question in the caierhism but at present
politically speaking, according to heights and mta
Of some pretenders, we are all in the fog-a
genuine Scotch mist, which phlegm cutter can
enable us to penetrate or see through
In the olden time, under the gathering cry Of
"hmrah for Jackson," no questions asked as TO
whether he was conservative or ''radical"-"loco,
foco," barn-burner,"" pig ringer," " rutabaga.
err" so long as he sustained democratic policy and
democratic measures But in modern days, a new
and secret test is required He must be bawli1g
continually of his own purity, his attachment 10
the peoples rights, and his own comprehensive views
with regard to the duties and privileges of governor,
and governed, or he is looked upon suspciously. He
must acknowledge supremacy and infallibility OF
certain men, or bring certificate, (renewable every
SIX months) well endorsed or he will be read out Vi
the party.
In the olden time, the federalisi. claimed all the
order the decency, the talents, and the religion
These exclusive democrats Of the present time stand
on that platform exactly and issue their "buls"
with as much thunder his Holiness the inialibe
Pope Of Rome.
For ourselves, we are sick Of this miserable bus.
ness and will have none of it. Take, for example
the President and his measures. IL is considered
heretica and unsafe 10 approve them, although they
are carrying out the precise policy advocated and
urged by the fathers of the democratic host and vet
they claim TO be consistent democrats, and cry "down
with National Bank, and curse President Tyler no.
did right in so acting.
Why, by their test many of the frmcst democrat,
Of the country would have to be brought TO the block
who hold office under President Tyler,
For instance, some Democrat asks for an office UNI
der the General Administration a bear in beehive
would not produce greater commotion among the
clusiyes. at is wrong" it is base, -" il is antide
mocratic sit is selling the party" sc. they below
And yet these same men will endors, another
applicant as genuine Simon Pure who asks for The
rery thing sy, and write TO the heads of the De
Partments at Washington urging by every persia.
sion the appointment although he be member ol
Democratic Legislature, and Democrat dyed in the
wool.
Again, they will oppose application because the
applicant Is Democrat, and ought not to ask John
Tyler for office, or hold II under him, would IN
volve derehcJn Of principle; but they will endorse
over an incumbent straight Out Democrat, al
though the dye-stua in his wool has not got dry aud
when it does il will be found Of the brightest Federal
blue, and beseech John Tyler TO retain him. because
he Is such Democrat, and an sup TO the hub Tyler
man. Rare consistency this, especially considering
tie fact that the President has given more walking
papers to blue-sklnned Feds than any Of his predc-
cessors, and that the applicant is opposed, because
he Is still Van Buren, man, and they read him ut
of the party accordingly
Now We protest against all this as dsingenuouS
and unfair; aud If these gentlemen wish 10 divide
and distract the Democratic party, they could not
with The aid OF Connecticut Yankee ingenuity devise
better patent method to accomplish il.
We stand, as heretofore, on the old Democratic
Republican PLATFORM and not all the rash il-adysed
and inconsistent acts Of pretended friends or open
foes shall drive us from IT, so long support the
great cardinal measures and pr ncipes OF the Repub-
lcan party, whether laid down and carried out by
the General or State Administration, or whether We
are denounced as radical or conservative We know
no such distinction in our party.