Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-05-21
PROSPECTUS OF THE
Western Democratic Re-
view,
AND MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

suits in SOCIAL ano pOiltlOdi SOAuAhVAS S00H ah
Eore active operation than at the present e
pooh. And while this remark is just in regard
TO our country generally, it applies, with Peeu-
liar emphasis, to society in the Great VEST
There is among the people Ofthis vast Region,
a robust spirit and energy, not yet thoroughly
nationalized, capable Of being formed into
national chara=ter more elevated and grand
than any the world has yet seen; possessing
all the dignity and sternness of the old ko-
man, without his rudeness; all the polish OF
theanci ient AtheniRn, without hisofeminemcy ;in
short, chart cteI thoroughly AMERICAN. lis
the Office Of the Statesman aad Philosopher to
seize on these elements Of character, give
them proper direc tion, and finally shape them
into an order Ofuurivaled beauty and magni6-
cence. Such elevation Of character, and such
a sublime moral condition, Of the people of this
Greet Western Empire, are capable Of realiza-
tiOn The IinAuence Of an ably conducted
Magazine, established in the heart Ofthe Miss
issippi Valley, would exercise, in the acheiv-
ment Of these great objects, must be APPARENT
to every Obrver.
No social element is so active in producing
these glorious results, As the Democratic Pfin-
ciple, which pervades the hearts of our people.
Il is this principle which is working out new
order of society in our country, establishing
novel politcaI institutions, stamping upon
man new character, influencing our Legisla-
tiOn, and is rsvoLutionizing all that pertains
to man in his social and political condition.
It is because Of the stubbornness and energy
with which this principle moves onward, de-
moLiShing what hoary error had treasured up,
and grappling, with its strous hand, every in
stitution and law which sAvOrs Of exclusive
privilege, that some timid and uUphilosophicaI
spirits are siezed with alarm; and startle at
imaginary horrors. They see, in Imagination,
all the wild tSrrors of the French Revolution
70 enacted, and all the beauty and harmony Of
| Civil Society, turned into furiuos discord. But
| such individuals should be admOnished, that
the Dsmocrtic principles the true principle
of Conserv atism; that it sims al the censerva-
tiOn Of mans rights, by the destruction of eV-
cry institution which would silently, but sure.
ly, purlou 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 tho term Conservation, as applied
to our political osnditioD.
Democracy is new element in civilization,
or, perhaps, it maybe moro proper to say,
that il is developing itself in new
form in our modern American civilizations
Various opinions are entertained as 10 it's ultI.
mate effects upon our social and political con.
dtion, but every philOsOphie observer must a.
gree, that VIII atever are to be its ultimate Of
fects, it is an active and powerful principle Our
own nion is, that, under proper direction, II
has great and priceless treasure in store for
! mankind; that il iSthe companion of true
! Christianity that It Is the spirit of bsnSvo.
lsnce applied to man in his social and polit-
. cal capacity; andthat it is destined to elevate
tho American character to pitch of moral
grandeur unequaled in ihe history of the
Hast.
Thus believing, to this end shall our hnm-
: ole labors be directed. 1t viii. be our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embody. in
philosophical disquistiOns, free from offensive
partisan bitterness, such sentimonts as tend
to the realization of this golden hope. And in
order to this, our work viii be thoroughly DEM
ocfatic in princi lie and in sentiment. Such
great qaestions as shall I, from time to time,
aQitate the public mind, will be calmly anu
nationally reviewed, by the ablest pens Of the
est
Besides our political department portion
cf our Magazine will be devoted to such we'll
written essays as win be general interest and
value to the psorls ofthe Mississippi Valley,
for IL is intended to make ita Western, and
, not All Ohio Periodical only. The Geography,
Geology. Statistics, and History Ofthe Valley
) will receive especial attentions for II is By
: lisved that these a q imperfetly understood by
. the country generally, and our bOundess re.
sources, not yet half developed, are not proper.
ty appreciated; otherwise tile improvement Mt OIL
our nav;gablewal alerSwouldnot be grossly neglect.
] ed by the General Government.
In connection with the foregoing department
of the Western Democratic Review, will
be our aim to make It., In literary point o.
view, worthy the patronage Of an enlightened
public, but It will be Out purpose, also, to make
I 1t food for the reason and judgment, ratheI
than tho fancy; to make 1t, in short a work o.
real utility to the Statesman, Philosopher, and
to all who shall peIuse its pages.
II is intended, also, TO devote a portion oil
each numberto to Biographical Sketches of dis.
tnguishsd Western Statesmen.
The principsl design, however, iS, to supply,
, as far as comes within the scope Of such work,
I that great desidsrGtuHs,a Democratic Litera.
ture. 1t has long been a source of r4gret, b.
distinguished Democrats, that most of the
highest efforts Of genius have besn wasted in
attempts that serve to make factitious distinc-
tons in society and GovInment, that tend to de.
press the masses; and hence, to snervate the
humnn mind. The necessity Ofa literature
that sympathizes with the "toiling millions, -
is as apparent, that comment is gratuitous iit is
one of tine wants ofthe age. Indeed, we need
not dilats upon the Importance Of such work,
nor undertake to demonstrate its necessity
Those considerations will readily occur to everr
thinking mind. Thsinausnce Of a work which
ives form and feature to public sentiment, and
mbOdies the gansral thought and aggregate idea
70 go vast community, must be strongly
felt throughout all the ramifcations
of society, aud must serve to give Homogeneous
ness to Western character.
Relying for our support particularly upon the
Democratic party, we have thus submitted
summary of our views and dopiniyns, and we nov
commit our enterprise to their generous symp&
thies.
} We have the promise of aid from some Of the
most enlightened minds and ablest writers in
the West, and have no doubt of success II a suf.
ECient patronage can be obtain cd.
B. B. TAYLOR.
. ERMS.
TheesterN Democratic Review aud Mouth.
MagiZlne, will be issHed on the first Of each
month, from the Office Of the Ohio Statesman.
at Ave dollars per year, payable in all cases iu