Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-04-30
PROSPECTUS OF T HE
Western Democratic Re-
view,
AND MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

"A no period in American hlstoIJha We
"A those moral influences, which mould and
fashion Soeiety,and work Outgreat &lasting re.
suits in social and political cOsdition, been in
Llore active operation than az the present O.
pooh. Aud while this remark is just in regard
90 our country generally. il applies, with pecu-
liar emphasis, to society in the Great VEST
| There is among the people ofthis vast Region,
robust spirit and energy, not yet thoroughly
nationalizsd, capable of being formed into a
national charastsr more elevated ana grand
than any tie world has yet seen; possessing
all the dignity and stemnsss of the old Ro.
man, without his Tudeness all the polish Of
theaneient Athenian, with hiseAfemincmcy lin
short, charcte thoroughly AYERIcAN. lis
the Office Of the Statesman and Philosopher to
seizs on these elements of character, give
them proper diTec tion, and finally shape them
into an order OfunrivaIed beauty and magnii-
cence. Such elevation Of character, and such
sublime moral condition, Of the people of this
Greet Western Empire, are capable Of Tealiza-
tion heAinauence of an ably conducted
Magazine, established in the heart Ofthe Miss
iasippi Valley, would exercise, in the acheiv-
ment OF these great objects, must be APPARENT
to every obrver.
No social element is go active in producing
these glorious results, As the Democratic Pin.
ciple, which pervades the hearts of our people.
II is this principle which is working out a new
order Of society in our country, establishing
novel polite institutions, stamping upon
man new character, influencing our legisia-
tion, aud is revolutionizing al 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-
moLishing what hOary error had treasured I'm.
and graphing, with its strous hand, every in.
stitution and law which savors of exclusive
privilege, that some timid and uuphi,osophica.
spirits are siezsd with alarm; and startIe at
imaginary horrors. They see, in Imagination.
all the wild terors of the French Revolution
re enacted, and all the beauty and harmony Of
Civil Society, turned into furiuos discord, But
such individuals should be admonisbed. that
the Democrtic principlei is the true principle
of Conservatism; that it aims at the censerya.
ton Of mans rights, by the destruction of ev..
cry institution which would silently, but sure.
ly, purlOn 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 lust and rational
meaning of the term Conservation, as applied
to our political Csndition.
Democracy is new. element in civilization.
or, pSrhaps, it maybs more proper 10 saw,
that il is developing itself in new
form in our modern American civilization
Various OpniOns are entertained as 10 its ult,.
mate effects upon our social and political con.
dtiOn, but every philOsOphic observer must a.
gree, that whatever are to be it's ultimate Of.
fects, IL is an active and powerful principle. Our
own opinion is, that, under proper direction. IL
has great and priceless treasure in store for
mankind; that it 10 the companion of true
Christianityi that 1t is the spirit of bonsvo.
lence applied to man in his social and pollti.
cal capacity; That it is destined to elevate
the American character to a pitch of moral
grandeur unequaled in ihs history of tbr
past.
Thus believing, to this end shall our hmm.
BILE laborsbe directed, 1t will be our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embody, in
disquisitlons, free from offensive
partisan bitterness, such sentiments ms tend
to The realization Of this golden hope. And in
order to this, our work will be thoroughly Dem.
Ociatic in princirl and in sentiment. Such
great questions as shal I, from time to time,
aRitate the public mind, will be calmly ana
nationally reviewed, by the ablest pens Of the
est
Besides our political department. a portion
CT our Magazine will be devoted to such well
written essays as will be ofgeneral interest and
value to the people ofthe Missiasppi Valley,
for il is intended to make ita Western. and
not All Ohio Periodical only. The Geopraphv. |
Geology. Statistics, aud History ofths VALLEY
will receive especial attention; for il il IN. |
lieved that these imperfetly understood by
the country generally, and our boundless re-. |
sources, not yet half developed, are not propsr. |
ty appreciated; otherwise the improvement Of
our nav;gablswaterswouldno be grossly neelect-
ed by the General Government.
In connection with the foregoing depa rtnsnt
Of the Western Democratic Review, win
be Om aim 10 make 1t, in a literary point Of
vew, worthy the patronage of an enlightened
public; but it will be our purpose, also, to make
1t food for the reason and judgment, rathe,
than tho fancy to make It., in short, work Of
real utility to the Statesman, Philosopher. and
to all who shall peIuse its pages.
1t ls intended, also, 10 devote a portion of
each number to Biographical Sketches of dis.
tingulshed Western Statesmen.
The principal design, however, Is, to supplv.
as far as comes within the scope of such a work
that great desideratanl,a Democratic Litera.
lure, 1t has Tong been a source Of ragret. bs
Demo,cra that most of the
highest efforts OF genius have besn wasted in
attempts that serve 70 make Fictitious distinc-
EiOns in society and Govlnment, that tend to de-.
press the masses; and hence, to snervato tho
humnn mind. The necessity Ofa literature
that sympathzes with the ''toillng millions,n
Is as apparent, that comment is gratuitous AZ il
'ne Of tine wants ofthe age. Indeed, we need
rot dilate upon the Importance of such work.
,of undertake TO demonstrate its necessitv.--
These considerations will! readily occur to every
thinking mind. The influence of work which
Ives form and feature to public sentiment, and
mbOdies the ganeral thought and aggregate idea
70 90 vast eOmmu Mtg, must be strongly
slt throughout all the rami6cations
'f society, aud must serve to give homogeneous
ness to Western character. H
Relying for our support particularly upon the
Democratic party, we have thus submitted a
summary Of ourvlews and opniyns, and we now
thies.
We have the promise of aid from some of th,
most enlightened minds and ablsst writers in
the West, and have no doubt Of success If suL
heieHt patronage can be obtain cd.
n H1Na