Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-01-18
Democracy.

are in ignorance OF their own
There seems to be oroaa
distinction, in the different sections OF
the Union, between the sentiments OF
one portion and those Of another OF The
self.s,yled Democracy. Like the wealth
er vane they turn which way soever
the wind blows. Yet, after all this
wfangling about principles and this
shifting about, we find that our oppo'
nents are pretty sanguine ct success
in the coming Presidential election. II
IS we'll enough that they should boil
ter their courage in order to keep their
,arty in good spirits but we believe
he die is cast, Tor soon will be) and
hat they will be found wanting in the
all of "A. They believe that some
hing will occur that will heal all their
difficulties, and cement them in one un-
broken phalanx. There is nothing, 1t
appears to US, that can bind these dis
:ordant members together. The name
Of democracy" might have some in
luence were not the interests Of the
North and South so disconnected by
the hot headed leaders Of the party
There is indeed charm in the word
democracy" that works wonders.--
Yet what claim have our opponents to
the title :! None in the least. Not a
whit more than ourselves. And we be-
lieve that the we'll informed of our op-
ponents are conscious that they have
no right to the title of democrats. -
But they know the potency of the
name and, no doubt, will continue to
usurp it as long as in their power.
At an early day, Mr. Madison, one of
the great leaders OF the opposite party,
was careful to guard mis- countrymen
against this error Of styling themselves
"democrats. He was particular to
deny, in the most explicit terms, the
democratic character with which some,
even then, were disposed TO invest the
Constitution: and he pointed out, with
equal force and perspicuity, the wide
difference between Democracy and a
Representative Republic.
A strict democratic government-one
in the true sense and meaning of the
term-we hope never to see. ltwoulj
be nothing more than Mobocracy. re-
sembling some Of the early states o.
Greece, and, that Of Rome, when an
archy, discord and confusion reignet
supreme. Such government Gf i
can be called one) can have no Consti
tuition, or fixed laws, for the will Of the
people would rule, and tina. will is ever
changing. No, heaven forbid tina. this
happy country should become a Demo
cracy. Then farewell peace and con
cord, and, come discord and war. Thu
The U. S. government is Republican
and Representative, and not Democrat
ic. Itderives its powers from the PEG
pie as the ultimate source of all right
full political power, and in that sens'
the only true political sovereign; and
again, the people collectively have hat
the wisdom to determine that the,
would not exercise the powers Of gov
eminent themselves, but would emplo,
agents 10 exercise such powers 70
them.
If, then, such be the nature and char
acter Of our institu,ions-an that the,
are, we have high authorities to sustain
us--what right have our opponents Il
the name Of Democrats 1t is an as
SUMPTION of ti,le--and one which, like
the ass with the lions skin, will ont
day be unmasked by the people whom
they have deceived.
Let it not be supposed for an instan
that we desire the name Of democra
for the party 10 which we belong. No
We are perfectly satisfied with Qua title
We glory in the name Of wing. 1t ha,
ever been identified with liberty an,
freedom. Il was the name Of the part,
that was opposed to tyranny and frs
shook the foundations Of the Kinol,
throne Of Great Britain: it was the ill.
Of the patriots of.he American Revolu
lion and thus are styled, at the presen
day, those who, in our opinion desir,
their counsry's greatest good and chief
est happiness.