Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-04-16
PROSPECTUS oFTHE
Western Democratic Re-
view,
AND MONTHLY e77AOAZINE.

l.
Ia. TAILOR, EDITOR .ib PRoRaieroR.
A II no period in AM fiean hi1toIyhA We
~ those moral influences, which mould and
fashion society, and work out great &lasting re.
sutsin social AID political eOndition, been in
nore active Operation than at she present q
pOeh. And whils this remark is just in regard
10 our country generally. itapPlies, with Peeu-
liar emphasis, to society in the Gfeat West,-
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 ana grand |
than any thesworld has yet seen; possessing |
Al the dignity and stemnesso Of the old RO-
man, without his Tudeness; all the polish Of
theaneien Athenian. without hiSshemincmey iin
short, a chart ctef thoroughly ABERIcAN. Itis
TIE Office of the Statesman and Philosopher to
seize on these elements Of character, give
them proper diTee tiOn. and finally shape them
intO an order Of funrivaled beauty and magnif-
cence. Such elevation of character, and such
a sublime moral condition, Of the people of this
Great Western Empire, are capable Of TeallZa-
| tion The Influence of an ably conducted
Magazine, established IN the heart ofthe sMias
issippi Valley, would exercise, in the aeheiv-
ment Of these great objects, must be APPARENT
to every obrVer.
No social element is so active in producing
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, and is reyotutiOnizing all that paFlains
to man in has social and political conditions
Ilt is because Of the stubbornness and energy
with which this principle moves onward, de-
nOLishing what hOaTy error had treasured up,
and graphing, with its strous hand, every in.
stitutiOn and law which savors of exclusive
privilege, that some timid and uuphi.osophica!
spirits are siezed 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 discoTd. But
such individuals snould be ndmonished, that
the Democrtie principles the true principle
Of Conservatism, that it aims at the censerVa.
tion Of mans rights, by the destruction of ev-
cry institution which would silently, but sure.
ly, purIoiu 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 tho only idst and rational
meaning Of the term Conservation, as applied
20 our political osnditiop.
Democracy is now element Ia civilization,
or. perhaps, it may be more proper TO saw,
that Il is developing itself in a new
form in our modern American civilization. -
Various opnions are entertained as TO its uItl-
mate effects upon our social and political con-
ditiOn, but every philOsOphic observer must a.
gree, that whatever are to bo Ire ultimate ef-
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 IL 10 the companion Of true
IChristianitY; thatit Is the spirit Of bonsvo-
annliad n snah In hfa ia1 uA
cal capacity; and that il is destined to elevate
tho American character to a pitch Of moral
grandeur unsqualed In The history Of the
past.
Thus bsIeving, to this end shall our hmm
BILE labors be directed. It viii! he our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embOdy, In
philosophical disquIsitiONs, free from oHsnsve
partisan bitterness, such sentiments As tend
70 the realization Of this golden hope. And il
order to this, our work viii be thoroughly Dem.
oclatiC In princi lie aud Ia sentiment. Such
great qaestioHs as ahal from time to tins,
aeitate the public mind, win Be calmly ant
nationally reviewed, BY The Ablsst pens Of the
est g.
Besides our political department portion
ef our Magazine will be devoted 70 such we'll
written essays as will be ofgsneral Interest and
lue to the people Ofthe Mississippi Valley,
not an Ohio Periodical only. The Geography,
Geology. Statisticg, aud History ofths Valley
will teceiveespecial attentiOnj for 1t is bn.
lisvsd that these imperletly understood BY
the country gene rally, and our boundless re.
sources, not yet half developed, are not proper.
ty apprecl lated otherwise the lmproveme nt Of
our nav;gablewaterswouldn be grossly negleet-
ed by the General Government.
Ia connection with the foregoing depa rtment
of the Western Democratic Review, win
be orr aim 10 make II, In literary point Of
lvisw, worthy the patronage OF an enlightened
jpublic, but II will be our purpose, also, to make
Il food for the reason and judgment, rathe,
than tho fancy; to make 1t, In short, work OF
real utility to the STATESMAN, Philosopher, and
to all who shall peIuse its pages.
1t is intended, also, 10 devote portion OF
each numher to Biographical Sketches Of dis.
tinguishsd Western Statesmen,
The principal design, however, is, to supply,
as far as comes within the scope Of such q work.
that great desidsratuna,a = Democratic Litera.
ture. II has long been a source of regret, b.
distinguished Demo ;cTats, that most Of the
highest elFotts OF genius have been wasted il
attempts that serve to make faetitOus dlstine.
tons In society aud GovInment, that tend 10 de.
\ press the masses and hence, TO en- sFvatO the
7 lhumnnrlind. The necessity ofa literature
that aympathizes with the "toiling laillions,"
Is as apparent, that comment 10 EFatuitous ne is
one Of tine wants ofthe age, Indeed, we need
not dilate upon the Importance ofsuch a work,
moi undertake 10 demonstrate Its necessity
These confederation will readily occur to ever
thinking mind. The influence OF work which
ives form and feature @ public sentiment, and
| mbodles the ganertl thought and aggregate idea
70 70 vast eommUn nIisy must be strongly
islt throughout all Che ramiheatiohs