Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-05-07
PROSPECTUS OF t he
Western Democratic Re
view,
AND MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

Elore active operation thah al she present o |
poeh. And while this remark is just in regard !
20 our country generally, IL applies, with pecu- |
liar emphasis, to society in the Great Vest
There Is among the people ofthis vast Region,
a robust spirit and energy, not yet thoroughly |
nationuliEed, capable of being formed into
national chara.Ier more elevated and grand
than any the world has yet seen; possessing
all the dignity and stemness of the old RO-
man, without his rudeness; all the polish Of
| theanci ient Athenian without hsetemincmcy lin
short, charsc cter thoroughly AHERIoAN, Itis
the Office of the Statesman and Philosopher to
| seize on these elements of character, give
them proper direct tion, and finally shape them
| into an order ofunrivaled beauty and magni6-
cenee. Such elevation Of character, and such
sublime moral condition, Of the people Of this
Greet Western Empire, arc capable Of realiza-
tion The Ainhuence Of an ably conducted
Magazine, established in the heart ofthe Miss
issippi Valley, would exercise, in the ACHIEVE
ment of these great objects, must be APPARENT
to every Obrver.
No social element is 90 active in producing
these glorious results, As the Democratic PFin-
| eipIe, which pervades the hearts of our people.
It is this principle which is working out a new
order of society in our country, establishing
novel political institutions, stamping upon
man a new character, influencing our legisla-
tiOn, aud is revoLutionizing all 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 up,
and grappling, with its stroUs hand, every in.
stitution and law which savors of exclusive
privilege, that some timid and uuph,osophcal
spirits are siezed with alarm; and startle al
II ina -. A.
all the wild terrors Of the French Revolution
re enacted, and all the beauty and harmony Of
| Civil Society, turned into furuos discord. But
such individuals should be admOnished, that
the Democrtic principlei is the true principle
Of Conserv atism; that it q inns at the censerVa-
tion Of mans rights, by the destruction of sV-
/ cry institution which would silently, but sure-
/ y,purtOn them; that its first care 10 MAN and
his FREEDOM, believing all political theories but
heTesies, 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.
i Democracy is new element in civilization.
/ or, perhaps, it may be more proper to say,
that il is developing itself in new
form in our modern American civilization
Various opinions are entertained as TO its ultl-
mate effects upon our social and political con-
: dition, but every philosophic observer must a.
gree, that whatever are to be its ultimate ef.
fects, it 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 is the companion of true
Christianity; that It is the Spirit of bsnevo-
lence applied to man in his social and polti.
cal capacity; andthat it is destined to elevate
the American character to a pitch of moral
grandeur unequaled in ihe history of this
past.
Thus believing, to this end shall our hmm
bio labOFs be directed, It wil..be our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embody. in
philosophical disquisit tiONs, free from offensive
partisan bitterness, such sentiments as tend
to the realization Of this golden hope. And in
order to this, our work will be thoroughly Dem.
Oclatic in principle and in sentiment. Such
great questions as shal I, from time to time,
aEitats the public mind, will be calmly anG
nationally reviewed, by the ablest pens Of the
est
Besides our political departmental portion
Of our Magazine will be devoted to such we'll
written essays as will be Ofgensral interest and
valve to the people Ofthe Mississippi Valley,
for h is intended to make ita Western, and
not an Ohio Periodical onlv.. The Geography,
Geology. Statistics, aud History Ofths Valley
will receive especial attention. for It is be-.
lleved that these are imperfetly understood BY
} the country generally, and our boundlsss re-
sources, not yet half developed, are not proper
ty Sbprec lated otherwise the improvement OF
our nav;gableYaterswould be grossly usglecl-
ed by the Gene raj G GOvenmOnt.
Il, connection with the foregoing departm
of the Western Democratic Review, win
be our aim 10 make II, in a literary point OF
view, worthy the patronage of an enlightened
public, but 1t will be our purpose, also, to make
Il food for the reason and judgment, rather
than tho fancy to make it, in short, work Of
real utility to the Statesman, Philosopher, and
to all who shall peIuse its pages.
| It Is intended, also, 10 devote a portion Of
each number to Biographical Sketches Of dis
tinguished Western Statesmen.
The principal design, however, is, to supply,
as far as comes within the scope Of such work,
that great de1derGtunI,a Democratica Litera-
luFe. It has long been a source of ragret, b.
distinguished Demo oserats, that most Of the
highest efforts OF genius have besn wasted In
attempts that serve to make factitious distinc.
tions 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 ;it is
one of tine wants Ofthe age, Indeed, we need
not dilate upon the Importance of such work,
nor undertake TO demonstrate its necessity
These considerations will readily occur to ever
thinking mind. The influence ola work which
ives form and feature to public sentiment, aud
mbodes the gansral thought and aggregate idea
70 so vast community, must be strongly
felt throughout all the rami6cations
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 opiniyns, and we nov
commit our enterprise to their generous SympS
thies.
We have the promise Of aid from some of the
most enlightened minds and ablcst writers in
the West, and have no doubt Of success II sui.
kclsnt patronage can be obtain ed.
B. B. TAYLOR.
ERMS.
Theestern Democratic Review and Month
Magizine, will be Issued on the first of each
month, from the Office Of the Ohio Statesman,
Ia a.s doIla re mar vaap navahIa In al o.... =,