The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1845-05-10

BANCROFTS' DEFINITION OF DE.
MOCRACY.
! The following definitiOn of Democracv lis
object, end and aim, is from the pen of the nres.
eht Secretary of the Navy; il is extracted from
an address prepared by Mr. B. for the voung de-.
mocracy Of Massachusetts, and we recommend
us attentive perusa'. 10 all young men, who want
70 know what constitutes real genuine democ.
racy.
"Democracy is government founded on per
sons, and not on property-recognsing not only
equality before the law, blu, equality Of political
franchise.
"Or democracy may be defined, the govern.
mens which rests its support on public opinion.
II recognises the great truth, that the mum f
cent Author ofbeing, has conferred the gifts of
mind upon every member of The human race,
without distinction of The outward circumstan.
ces. Whatever of their possessions may be
engrossed, mind asserts its own independence.
Lands, estates, the produce of mines, the fertili
ty OF the seas, these may all be usurped by a
privilege class. The 'grasping power of ava.
rice' assuming The form Of ambitious power, may
acquire realm suodue continents, compass
earth IN its schemes of sggrandisemeni, and
sigh alter other worlds, but mind eludes the
power OF appropriation; Il exists only 10 it's own
individuality; it 10 posesssion which cannot be |
q chains; Ssrns1i II III s iAssSg1 i
defes monopoly. A'govefnmehto 81 equal rights,
must therefore rest upon mind: il il The reflec.
hon OF pubic opinion; It acknowledges that the
sum of The moral intelligence Of the community
should rule the State. Ia
"Or democracy may be defined the govern.
nent that applies morals OF politics. II does not
wn prescription to be valid plea for pub lie in !
lsttce; but steadily, yet not harshIy, studies to
radicate established abuses; and to bring social J
and law into perfect harmony with v
Moral right. S,
ain this sense democracy is the party of pro. :,
ress and the party of reform. Il aims consl ant
at Improvement; not dismayed by the natu. :,
al and necessary imperfection Of all human ef u
'r's; and not giving way to despair, because !,
very hope does not ripen into fruit. - =,
"Or democracy is the government which as. d.
erts that the public happiness is the true object
! legislation. 1t is therefore that system which
ms at elevating the masses of mankind BY a.
'akenIng those masses to the knowledge an the ~
are ofther own interests. 4
"I'ae history OF the more numerous classes ~
as hitherto been but the relation of events
'hlch founding at once great inequality offor.
Inc, OF enjoyment, and of individual happiness,
ave gradually placed the larger part Of every
alton under guardianship and 10 a state Of de-.
endence." Refinement and civilization weret
,served for the more favored inhabitants of of
ties. The contempt for the common man be- re-
lme SO fixed, that in infused tseif into langu- pr
,e. The pursuits of agriculture were held in
,ntem?t. Was extravaganza orr superstition Sc
be censAred, it was called psg0aism, which cd
gnally meant only life in the country; coarse in,
ass Of feeling was branded as rustic; the poor, cd
Nv proaah, meant originally but a culiiva,or We
the soil; heather was at first but the dwell int
on earth; uittain was no more than the resi- 70
IN, OF village. 1t is ofthe happiest results hi
our tree institutions, that it has reversed these
lse ignoble distinctions; and refusing to CRAFTY w
e pride OF caste, has acknowledge The common "
ind to be the true material for common. u u's
cath. Every thing has hitherto been done =
+ the happy few. Ii is not possible TO endow No
aristocracy with greater benefits than they 49,
we already enjoyed; there is no room to hope, -
at individual minds will be more powerful or n,
ore fully developed than the minds of the -.
eatest sages Of past time. 81,
1.-The world can advance only by diffusng in ma
lhgence and the elements OF happiness among dig
e people, BY cultiva,ing and improving their me
oral and intellectual powers. To accomplish ~
is end by the means Of the people themselves An
the highest purpose Of democracy. II il be So
e duty Of the individual to strive after per- Ike
ctlon like the perfection of God. how much in
ore ought nationio be the image Of Deity - tn,
Ut institutions have acknowledged the common
ind to be the true Parian marble, tit to be
rought into likeness to god. The mission of ~ !.
merica is the culture and the happiness Of the ao
asses. y"
s.Oy democracy is the party that cherishas ia
slice and peace" "Onr institutions are e.. ;ts
ntially pacific" "Claiming nothing but what ~
E'gnt' q SUBMITTING 10 nosn'ns 'nsLiS wrong We