Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-09-22

thought down TO level with the narrow views,l
crude p0iions and blind instincts ofthe multitude.
l. this tendency is continued and encouraged, our
whole intellectual world will becOme superficial
aud vod and Amer lean lite TOO feeble TO he worth
possrssing. hat IL most dangerous in this ten
dency is The fact that is thought 10 be democrat
IT,, aud is encouraged Ivy sont who have the ears
aud henris OF The democracy.
To set our faces against 1t is To expose ourselves
10 the vagIe charge OF being nrs!Ocras, uiid TO
he drnUunc,d as the enemies OF the people, ms
men who have no confidence in the people, 40
| love Tor popular government but who would III
irOduce n monarchy, or build up an nrlstocracy,
or something else quite as bad, il not worse. But
!, for one meet the Charge here on the threshold.
deny that this tendency is Democratic or that II
results from tie democracy; it is decidedly anti
democratic, aud originates in the abuse IN the per-
version OF democracy. There is democracy, in
any worthy sense Of The term, only where earh
nun has mind of his own, and uuers that mind
clearly, distinctly, without suffering il to be lost IA
tn vOice Of any other man. Moreover, demOcra-
cy, regarded as principle, is not necessarily
deerrIilgto the mass but is The wise and just in-
slnll0B and administration nt Government Tor
the highest aud besLg good Of the whole people
am thought 10 naht couidstte in the people /;
bn reUily iave moro cstt in them itlnu le
his wind said the other day, since have been
IN Office have made il my duIy To- ascertain and
conform To The wIll at my constituents :" for
dare tell he people what believe to he the truth
| essential 10 their well being, and to contradict
them to their very faces when believe Them IN
! the wrong. But my confidence IN the people Is
III IheIr capabilities, aud not in their actual aa-
mcnts, or IN the practical wisdom vt their actual
| Judgments. The p,Ople ~ whom want conf
| deuce Is the political people, the people whose
vnlce we collect AT the hao,.hox, who are, aud
always must needs be, only snail minority OF
the whole popula ion. The genuine people, II
bpIr k, Ia md
aud earnest in condemnation OF the tendency Of
when we speak. They feel that they want i'll
el'igence, want hight, aud they look eagerly around
tor 1t; but iei cen them aud the ght stand ever
This Immense BODY of shallow paled politicians,
who dread nothing SO much popular intelll =
gence, aud whose sole chance Of success is in
shutting out The light, and making the people be-
lleve that they the people are already masters OF
political science.
Here lies the evil. Nearly all our writer's, our
whole ne wspaper press, with few honorable ex
ceptlonS, do little else than echo what they take
| 10 he dominant convictions OF their respective
parties, secs, OF schools and il one chances 1t
ihInk or himself, und labor TO advance the mass
10 elevate lle standard OF thought, tue whole pack
"Tmy, Blanche, Sweetheart, little dogs and all,'
are let loose upon him aud he is forthwith run
down as II wilt beast, or u savage who il suffered
To escape would corrupt The people and eat gu
their substance, perhaps devour their women an,
chIidreu.
Now, in the name of science, of knowledge
of wisdom, oi virtue, Of the people, Of outrage
democracy for "ne solemnly aud earnes ly pro
test against this serviIiiy 10 the tnnss-a servit
10 which u man never sub s IN good faith and 10
honest purposes hut tor purposes always base an
selfish. love my country; love her 2oii.ica
institutions; aud | am anb lous OF seeing m,
country men taking the ead in every department
ot high and manly thought. am not willing Il
be alwny hependen on foreigners for my intel
leciual nulriln,nt; blush 10 think ihut when
would read profound work on science, whetlie
moral, intellectual, social, political or religious,
must order il from France or Germany. But ~
il must he I'LL we cease TO hold it democratic l.
echo only 'he thoughts Of the people, even thougl
II be lhsIf "soier second thought" We mus
dare spek Tor truth, and dare H. and dare labor TO
the elevation OF the people, iHstcnu OF mrrety-o
brying ihem, like The miserable demagogues an
pety pc ucians, toho are raised into importance b.
The energy wih Wh,ch they seream democracy, ana b
The tout Windy professions they make all occa
Sions Of deUOiion 10 The ,oeare Of he people, AMI
the great Willingness 10 receive The coi,tnauds q
the people, and To live aud die in their service.