Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-01-09
PROSPECTUS OF THE ~.
Western Democratic Re-
s.a. view, ,r.g h =.
AND MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

AND MONFHLY MAGAZINE. .-
B.B. TAYLOR, EDITOR AND PRoPRIRFoR.
A I no period in Anne irican histoIyha We
IN those moral influences, which mould and
fashion society ,and work out great blasting re-.
suits in social and political condition, bee1 in
EAore active operation than at the present a.
pooh. And while this remark is just in regard
to 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
nationaliZed, capable of being formed into
national chara-Lef more elevated ana 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
.theancie ent Athenian, without hissffemincmcv lin
short, chart cter thoroughly AMERIoAN. lis
the Office of the Statesman and PHILOSOPHER to
seize on these elements of character, give
them a proper direction, and finally shape them
into an order of ofunrivaled beauty and mapni6.
cence. Such elevation Of character, and such
a sublime moral condition, Of the people of this
Great Western Empire, are capable Of realiza,
tion The Snauence of an ably conducted
Magazine, established IN the heart ofthe Miss
issippi Valley, would exercise, in the acheiv-
nent of these great objects, must be apparent
to every observer. ..r.s
No Ocial element is so active in producing
these glorious results, AS the Democratic Prin.
ciple, which pervades the hearts of our people
1t is this principle which is working out a new
order of society in our country, establishing
novel political institutions, stamping uDon
man new character, influencing our lepisla-
tinn, aud is revotutiOnizing all that pertains
to man in his social and political condition.
1t is because of the stubbonness and energy
with which this principle moves onward, de-
moLishng what hoary error had treasured up,
and graphing, with its stroUg hand, every in.
stitution and law which savOrs of exclusive
privilege, that some timid and uuphi'osophicaI
spirits are sezed with alarm; and startle Al
imaginary horrors. They see, in imagination.
all the wild terrors of the French Revolution
re enacted, and all the beauty and harmony Of
Civil Society; turned into furiuos discord. But
such individuals houLd be admonished, that
the Democrtic principle is the true principle
OF Conservatism; that it aims at the censerva-
tlon Of mans rights, by the destruction of ey-
cry institution which would silently, but sure.
ly, purLoiu 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 just and rational
meaning of the term Conservation, as appl,ed
tOour political Csndition. 81 - ~.
Democracy is new element in civilization.
or, psrhaps, it may be more proper to saw,
that it is developing itself IN a new
form in our modern American civilization.
Various opinions are entertained as TO its uItl-
mate effects upon our social and political con-
dtiOE, but every philos0phic observer must a.
gree, that whatever are to be its ultimate eff
fects, it san active and powerful principle. Our
own opinion is, that, under proper direction, it
has great and priceless treasure in store for
mankint; that it is the companion of true
christianity; thatit is the spirit of benevo-
lence applied to man in his social and politi-
cal capacity; and that it is destined to elevate
the American character to pitch Of moral
grandeur uhequaled in the history of the
past. n@ '" '.''a74 r. H',
Thus believing, to, this end shall our hmm
bic labors be directed. Itwil; be our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embody. in
philosophical disquisitioNs, 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.
ocratic in princitle and in sentiment. Such
great qaestions as shall L from time to time,
agitate the public mind, will be calmly and
nationally feviewed, by the ablest pens Of the
West. oa To- 5rl .bsos.oa9 1tE7 qcHi 'lE
Besides our political deg artment portion
Ct our Magazine will be devoted to such we'll
written essays as will be of general interest and
value to the people Of the Mississippi Valley,
for tits intended tn make ita Western, and
not an Ohio Periodical only. The Geography,
Geology. Statistics, and History ofthe Valley
will eiveespecial attention; for it is bo-
lieved that these ae imperfetly understood by
the country generally, and our boundIess re-
sources, not yet half developed, are not proper-
Iy appreciated otherwise the improvement Of
our nav;gabIewaterswouldnot not be grossly neglect
ed by the General Government. rfls
In connection with the foregoing, department
of the Western Democratic Review, witt
be our aim to make it. in a literary point of
view, worthy the patronsgeof Of an enlightened
public; but it will be our purpose ,also, to make
il food for the reason and judgment, rather
than tho fancy; to make it, in short a work of
real utility to the Statesman, Philosopher, and
to all who shall peJuse its pages. f57o
It'll Is intended, also, 10 devote portion Of
each number to Biographical Sketches of dis
tlnguished Western Statesmen .-----,
The principal design, however, 10, to supply,
as TAI as comes within the scope of such a, work,
shat great desiderGtunt, Democratic Litera-
ture has long been a source Of regret, BE-
distinguished Demo ;crats, that most Of the
highest efforts OF genius have obesn wasted Ia
attempts that serve to make Fictitious distine-
tionsi society add GoviameRr, tha tteud to de-
pfeSsthe masses aud hence, to snerysts. The