Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1844-01-02
PROSPECTUS OF THE
Western Democratic Re-
view, 'H .
AND MONTHLY MAGAZINE.

.. D. TAYLOR, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
A T no period in Anne irican history have
IN those moral influences, which mould and
fashion society,and work out great &lasting re-
suits in social and political condition, been in
Elore 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 ofths vast Region.
robust spirit and energy, not yet thoroughly
nationalized, capable of being formed into a
national chara:ler more elevated ana grand
than any the world has yet seen; possessing
all the dignity and sternness of the old Ro-
man, without his Tudeness; all the polish of
theancent Athenian without hiseffemincmcv lin
short, chars cter thoroughly AMERICAN. 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 ofunrivaled beauty and magni6-
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 Influence of an ably conducted
| Magazine, established in the heart ofthe Miss
issippi Valley, would exercise, in the acheiy-
ment of these great objects, must be apparent
to every observer.
| No social 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 upuS
man new character, influencing our legisla-
tion, 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-
moLshing what hoary error had treasured up,
| 4 L. IL. sA.
stitution and law which savors of exclusive
privilege, that some timid and uuphi!osophical
spirits are siezed with alarm; and startle at
imaginary hsrrors. 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 furuos discord. But
such individuals hould be admonished, that
the Democrtic principle is 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, purlon them; that its first care is MAN and
his FREEDOM, believingalL 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 applied
to our political osndition.
Democracy is new element in civilization,
or, perhaps, it mayb be more proper to say,
that il is developing itself in a new
form in our modern American civilization
Various opinions are entertained as TO its ultI-
mate effects upon our social and political con-
dition, but every philosophic observer must a.
gree, that whatever are to be its ultimate eff
fects, it islan active and powerful principle. Our
own opinion is, that, under proper direction, it
has great and priceless treasure in store for
mankind; that it is the companion of true
Christianity; that it is the spirit of benevo-
lence applied to man in his social and polti-
cal capacity; and that it is destined to elevate
the American character to pitch of moral
gran deur unequaled in ihe history of the
past.
Thus believing, to. this end shall our hmm
BILE labors be directed. 1t will he our aim, in
conducting our proposed Review, to embody. in
philosophical disquistions, free from offensive
partisan bitterness, such sentiments as tend
10 the realization of this golden hope. And in
order to this, our work will be thoroughly Dem
ocFatic in princiale and in sentiment. Such
great qaestions as shall I, from time to time,
agitate the public mind, will be calmly and
nationally reviewed, by the ablest pens Of the
West, s.ia
Besides our political department portion
CT our Magazine will be devoted to such well
written essays as will be of general interest and
value to the people the Mississippi Valley
| for it is intended to make ita Western, and
not an Ohio Periodical only. The Geography,
Geology. Statistics, and History ofthe Valley
iis,,.I ~ th"so &c ;mDsrfetly u,dsrs,ood h,,
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