Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-09-27
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY.

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRACY.
We confess ourselves Of that number who
believe men capable Of higher astainmen's ~
,;n,e,ec, and morals-apd Of the enjoyment OF
a more perfec, freedom, than they heretofore
have reached. Tha, the world has heretofore
been governed TOO much. admits not oil
doubt. lis whole history is bu! the sIckehi'g
detail Of The servtude Of the many 10 'he
cruel and arbitrary desposism Of The !ew-o'
wrong and outrage inflicted by the strong and
wealthy upon the weak and poor. The labor
and strength Of the masses has been spent for
naush,-unscrupulou usurpers have under
various pre,ex,s, nampled upon the sacred
rights Of the people and concentrated IN Their
own hands that wealth and that power which
Of riga, belonged to the ,oiing masses, and
should have been equally diffused among the
members Of he great family Of man. Per-
ve,.ed from its legitimate purpose OF equally
protecting and eleva'ing all lis SUBJECTS hu'
man government, has heretofore proved only
an engine Of cppression-a designing few have
moved the springs and worked the wires OF
lie incomprehensible machinery. while the
thousands whose rights j, should have protect
cd have .oied, and sweat, and groaned beneath
The burdens Of their heartess task mas.efs.-
Br,-ibank God tile dawnings Of better
ard brighter day are at length percepl'ble.-
Thouuh We are no believers 10 the earthly
perfec,abili,y Of the human race, or OF human
institutions, we believe the signs OF the times
clearly indicate the approaching dawn OF
brighter day upon the masses CT ma"k'nd.-
The days. Of the oppressors are numbered
There is abroad in the land resis,ess spirit
Of inquiry which is destined to up-he"ve and
overthrow the present organization OF human
society and human arrange
in truthful beauty and simplicity all their
several elements sweep from existence
every veslise and every form Of oppression by
kings and aris.ocrats. AS ye'the people have
never known their power, but they are soon
both to know and to assert it. For ages have
they slumbered in ignorance, but now gIori'
Gus poisicsl regeneration awaits them. They
are abou, to cast the gathered dust OF cen'u-
ries FROM .hei, eyelids, and, baptized into a
new faith, with their hearts enlightened by
the sunbeams Of truth and knowledge, they
are TO march forth, hand in hand, 10 the at
.anment Of glorious destiny. in the full re-
covery Of all those rights originally given
them by their Maker, but wrested from them
by the hands Of oprresscrs.
And this triumph Of The masses is the Pro
eressire Democracy we advocate !, is no
born with the fall Of Adam-and has existed
ever since men were condemned to regain ,ht
perfection they then lost, BY life Of toll, ane
suffering, and unceasing progress. We may
if we choose, forget the substance, and engag,
in fluiltss quarrels about the name, ye
all who have read the history Of the past be-
ieve in the progressive democracy we have
ske,ched. 1t implies The progress OF the hu
man race from error to truth, and f il has NJ
existence Blu, in the brain Of the visionary en-
,hnsias', the advancement Of man in science
and religion is an idle dream-,he church ant
the school house should be closed the Bible
should be buvied-,he priest should cease Il
minister at lie altar-Go existence is
fable, and Religion an imposition. f,hert
be no such thing as Progressive Democracy
Christ died in vain, and vice and virtue are
bu. unmeaning sounds. If Progressive De
mocracy has no existence man is a brute inca
pable of reason or refec,ion--for these are ne
cessary TO all improvement. He can learr
nothing from the experience Of the past--ont
generation can gather nothing from tina. which
has gone before it-and man is as incapable
OF improvement. as the beasts Of The field, and
mus, rank with them. If there be no sucI
thing as Progressive Democracy the hopes
and labors Of Philanthropy aEe vaiu-lhe blood
Of patriots and martyrs has been shed fol
nought-the preaching Of the Cross is worse
than fooishness-and fallen man can never
regain the lovely Eden he has lost.
But away with such gloomy suggestions.
There IS Progressive Democracy whose mis-
sion il is TO elevate man TO a level with the
angels. II is the handmade of religion; and
its spirit is identical with that which brncs
"slad tidings Of grea, JOY" 1t is the sun Of
hope to the oppressed millions Of our race
beautiful upon the mountains are already the
slant rays Of tina: suns speedy rising-and as
Vvh o no T..
norance, Humiliation and Sorrow, catch its
first golden lish. in tina, horizon 10 which their
expectant eyes have been snlnnu direcled an