Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-06-03
Bancrofl's Definition Of Demoeracy.

rellings ABOUT men, to find once in while
sound article on principles-someih;ne
above mere cant and prejudice, that sounc
and inquiring mind may seize upon fol
meditation and reflection. The political
doctrine laid down in the following article
from the pen Of George Bancroft, a new
Secretary Of the Navy, is of a character
that must commend itself to almost all oil
the rejecting minds in our country. Il is
proper to say that il is an extract from an
address adopted by democratic meeting
some years ago, but will lose none Of its
force or interest from age:
democracy is a government founded on
persons, and not on property-recognising
not only equality before the law, but equal
iiy Of political franchise.
''Or democracy may be defined, the gov
eminent which rests Its support on public
opinion. 1t recognises the grea, truth, that
the munifceni Author Of being, has con-
iered the gifts Of mind upon every member
Of the human race, without distinction of
outward circumstances. Whatever Of their
possessions may be engrossed, mind asserts
lis own independence, Lands, estates, the
produce Of mines, the fertility of the seas,
these may all be usurped by privileged
class. The grasping power Of avarice, as
Stunning the form of ambitious power, may
acquire realm after realm, subdue con-
tneLts, compass earth 10 its schemes of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and sigh after other worlds
but mind eludes the power Of appreciation;
it exists only in its own individuality; it is
q possession which cannot be confsca,ed,
and cannot be torn away; it laughs al
chains; it bursts from its Imprisonment; it
defies monopoly. A government Of equal
rights, must therefore rest upon mind; it is
the reflection Of public opinion; it acAnowI-
edges that the sum Of the moral ln.elli-
gence Of the community should rule the
State.
"Or democracy may be defined the gov
eminent lhatapplies morals 10 politics. |.
does not own prescription to be a valid plea
for public injustice; but steadily, yet not
harshly, studies to eradicate established
abuses; and to bring social institutions and
laws into perfect harmony with moral right.
"ln this sense democracy is the party Of
progress and the party ofreform. II aims
constantly at improvement; not dismayed
by the natural and necessary imperfecton
Of all human efforts; and not giving wav 10
despair, because every hope does not ripen
into fruit.
"Or democracy is The government which
asserts that the public happiness is the true
object Of legislation. II is therefore that
system which Minis at elevating the masses
Of mankind by awakening those masses to
the knowledge and the care OF their own
interests.
"'rhe history of the more numerous
classes has hitherto been but the relation
Of events which founding at once a great
inequality Of fortune, Of enjoyment, and Of
individual happiness, have gradually placed
the larger part Of every nation under guar
dianship and in a state Of dependence. F"
Refinement and civilization were reserved
fer the more favored inhabitants Of cities.
The contempt for the common man because
SO fixed, that it infused itself into language.
The pursuits Of agriculture were held in
contempt. Was ex,ravagances or super
siition 10 be censured, it was called papan-
ism, which originally ment only life in the
country, coarsness Of feeling was branded
as rustic; the poor, now n reproach, ment
originally. but a cultivator Of the soil; a
heather was at first but the dweler on earth;
u rillion was no more than the resident Of
a village. |, is one Of the happ;est results
Of our free institutions, that il has reversed
these false and ignoble distinctions; and re-
fusing 10 crafty the pride of caste, has
acknow ledged the common mind to be the
true material Cor commonwealth. Every
thing has hitherto zen dons for u happy
few. 1t is not POSSIBLE 10 endow an arts
tocracy with greater benefits than they
have already enjoyed; there is no room to
hope that individual minds will be more
powerful or more fully developed than the
minds Of The greatest sages Of the past time
"The world can advance only ditfusing
Intelligence and the elements Of happiness
among the people, by cul,ivatins and i'm.
proving their moral and intellectual powers
TO accomplish this end by the means oil
the people themselves. is the highest pur.
pose Of democracy. If it To the duty Of the
individual 10 strive after perfection like
the perfection Of God, how much more
ought a nation TO be the image Of Deity
Our institutions have acknowledged the
common mind 10 be the true Parian ma rblc,
fl, to be wrought into likeness to god
The mission Of America is the culture and
and the happiness Of the masses.
"Or democracy is the party tina, cher.
ishes justice and peace. "Our institutions
are essential pacific Ginning nothing
but what is right, and submitting 10 nothing
that il wrong" our country commands re.
spec,, and offers the right hand Of perret.
ual ami,y TO every nation Of the globe.
'.Or democracy is government, by lis
very nature opposed to monopoly. For in
this form, no, less than in day other, can
the character OF lis principle, be expressed
Other governments acknowledge the SOW
erlgn,v Of an individual, or OF privileged
classes. Democracy has destroyed the
monopoly Of power, and given equal fran.
chises. A religious aris,ocracy, connec.
ting state and church, assumed q control
over conscience, and claimed monopoly
over freedom Of thought. Democracy has
given 10 conscience, liberty, ard has asser-
ted the universal right 10 intellectual free