The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-05-31

the military spirit; and numerous and exhausting
wars; as consequence.
Tyranny and despotism in the government
many of the kings becoming as tyrannical as the
eastern despots.
g. A neglect of agriculture.
A. Entire change in the admirable agrarian laws
Of Moses.
5. Ultimate ruin, and subjection of the nation to
foreign yoke.
And this, sir, was the career of the Israelites;-
and this the ruin brought upon them by that fatal
word!change, invented, introduced, and rung by
demagogues and corrupt politicians, who have
been the overthrow and downfall ofevery republic.
have no time to trace up the historiesl of repub-
lies, or free and expose the fatal effects
Of that word change. If had, could refer you
to the word change, which was never out of the
mouth of Hanno, by which he embarrassed the cor
rect action of the senate of Carthage and poisoned
the minds of the people; and by which he embarras-
sed the movements of Hannibal at the very time
he was shaking the walls of Rome; and
by which he succeeded in effecting the recall Of
Hannibal, and, with his recall, the destruction of
the last hope of ever conquerng Rome; and by
which, too, he and his kindred spirits succeeded in
overthrowIng the republic of Cathage, and making
herthe prey to Roman conquest.
could, also, refer to the demagogues and cor
rupt and bribed politicians of Greece, who, with
their pockets full of Persian gold, and their mouths
filled with change, laid the foundation for the over
throw of herrepubcs. 1t was the same fatal word
in the bIawling mouths Of corrupt politicians, that
subverted the Roman republic; and the same word.
after the overthrow Of the republic placed one vile
despot after another on the throne, each vile des-
pot viler and more despotic than his predecessor,
until the people of Rome, from being the eest peo-
pie on earth, became the greatest slaves on earth,
and until, too, it was finally overthrown. The
overthrow of all those republics was brought about
by the word change in the mouths ofcorrupt politi-
clans, hired demagogues, and pensioned liars, pre-
csely such as overspread our country in ls4o, and
by whose means the democracy were overthrown.
Yes, sir, overthrown by pensioned liars, hired dem
agogues, corrupt and bribed politicians, whose in-
cessant cry was change. chG,get change! The
word change was never permitted to die on the ear.
Well, the change was effected The democratic
party was overthrown. A democratic candidate
or the presidency was defeated in his reelection;
one who had administered the government on as
pure principles it ever had been administered or
ever will be administrations who had sustained
ourIree institutions, the constitution, and the ma
tons honor, with an ability and wisdom which
never has been surpassed since the formation ofour
man who was and is alike distin-
guished for the purity of his morals as for his talents
as statesman; distinguished alike for his firmness
as for his attachment to democratic principles and
the support of democratic institutions; alike distn.
guished for the qualities Of his head as for the good
ness of his heart; with moral reputation which
even the srocco breath ofsander dare not approach
Such was the man whose election was defeated
by that potent word change. and its accompanying
means. Yes, sir, the accompanying means; must
have something to say about the accompanying
MEANS in connection with the word change. And
what were they? All! sir, could they be botted
from the recollection of man, and could the history
that records them be annihated, what friend to his
m or patriot, jealous of the honor
and the reputation of his country and the American
would wish to revive their recollection!
But to the disgrace people, and to the dishon
or of our republican institutions, here and elsewhere
they live IN memory-they live in history, and will
live after all who now live will have returned to
dust. They will live when time shall have crum-
oled the marble columns that support the dome of
his hall; even then, the drunken orgies which dis
,raced the elections of 1910 will be classed with the
drunken orgies which disgraced all Greece in the
worship of Bacchus; fresh, then, will the disgrace
ul scenes of lS40 be in history, as the bacchanaan
reasts are now. So we cannot hide them; knowing
hem as we do, and known as they are, we may
better serve our country by exposing them.
Idesire to tax your time few moments while I
make few comments on truth-for regard it as
he highestvirtue of any people, whether in ma
ional, or in an individual point of view. In the
anguage ofanother, truth is lightfrom on high
t is almost the only thing on earth which is worth
he research and care of man. 1t is the light ofour
mind; it should be the rule and the guide of our
leart, as is the foundation of our hopes, and the
,ur evils, and the true remedy ofall troubles and
nlsfortunes II is the source OF good, and the hor-
or of bad conscience; it is the secret punisher Of
vice, and the everlasting reward Of virtue. 1t i'm
those who practice it, it dgni6es the
,halns, and makes supportable the dark and gloomy
lungeon ofthose who suffer for it; and brings and
,erpetuates public praise and public honors upon
he memories of those who have been its defenders
md its martyrs. Itmakes respectable the humility
md the poverty of those who have sacrificed allin
Is pursuit and its support. 1t inspires magnanmi.
of thought and forms heroic souls, Of which this
world is unworthy. 1t has made every sage and
very hero that the world has ever produced. wor-
hy Of the name. How unfortunate that il was not
letter known and more highly appreciated by the
shgsat all times but more especially in the polit-
al campaign of ls4o! But. to form a true esd.
nate of its exalted merits we must contrast Il with