The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-01-20
For The Northern Tril une.

TO support their candidates, for the reason that
they were for equal rights, were for elevating
the laboring class. On the other hand they
have always represented the Wing party as
opposed to the laboring man, and as favoring
unequal and oppressive laws calculated to
make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
Now l, as one of "the toili,g Millions" have
been led to ask myself the question, whether
or not the Democracy of the present day prac-
tice what they preach in relation to the labor
er- whether or not they are sincere in their
professions s-and know of no better way of
deciding this question than by observing what
modern Democracy has done and is doing
where it has had a chance to operate.
First, let us look at Virginia-the mother of
Democracy, as she is called-a State that
claims to be governed by the principles of the
Resolutions of '9S' and which. in fact, has
been governed almost entirely by Thomas
Richie. What has she done for the "toiling
millions :" Why, after all the sympathy of
Democracy for the poor man, he is not allowed
in this most Democratic of States to vote at
all, when at the same time they allow his rich
neighbor dozen votes, thus giving the polit-
cal power of the State into the hands of the
rich. This State, though under the rule OF
Democracy, makes no provision for free
schools where the poor mans children can be
educated. Look too, at South Carolina,
State of which the editor of the Democratic
paper in Somerset county in this State, said,
on seeing the majority it had given for Polk
and Dallas, that it was "a State that had al
ways studied Democracy as science" Yet
see what sympathy is manifested for the poor
man in this Democratic State. Here too, he
is not allowed to vote and, besides, the cleo
ton OF electors is taken from the people and
given to the Legislature, of which no man can
be member unless he is in possession OF
certain amount of property. 1t was a Demo-
cratic Governor of this Democratic State that
said it was no use to try to educate the poor
mans children, and recommended that the
balance of money appropriated for that pur-
pose should be bestowed on the colleges of the
State. Such, then, are the fruits of modern
Democracy. Such is modern Democracy as
put in practice in two Of the strongest Demo-
cratic States-States where the Wing party
can hardly be said to live.
Now let US look at the States which have
always been Wing and nothing else, and see
the effect of Wing principles. Take the State
of Vermont for instance, State that never
bowed the knee to modern Democracy. Let
us see how she stands with regard to the la
borers. Why, they are SO very arstocratic in
this strong hold of whigery that they allow
every American citizen to vote, whether he be-
white or black, rich or poor. This Wing State
appropriates more money in one year for COM
mon schools than Virginia and South Carolina
have during the whole time they have belong
ed to the Union. So oppressive is the pracui-
cal carrying out of Wing principles in YER
mont that poor mems children become fitted
in her common schools for any situation they
NAV ever be called to fill Then there is Mas
sachusetts-a State that has been held up as
the most aristocratc in the Union, by the
Democrats but wish they would inform us
laboring men where we can get better paid for
our labor, or where we can educate our child
rem better and at less expense-where the laws
are more equal, or where the laboring men are
more respected or more intelligent or more
prosperous than in Massachusetts. Surely it
cannot be in the State that is called the moth
er of Democracy, or in the State where, ac.
cordins to Maine Democratic paper, they
study Democracy as science.
N,nu ON rrup To1r1Nc M11II0Na.