The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-10-20


borne ample, th"ugh tardy testimony to the
excellence of the Democratic measures
winch they at the first opposed. 1t is a
curious historical fact, well worthy of am
PIE deVeIopement, that the whg party have
l"a'Iy' though slowly and reluctantly, yiel-
o'o 'he'r acquIesceocc, one by one, to
"earIy all these measures, and they have
now become the established policy of the
country. When we review the manv i'm
porlant political questions which, since the
commencement of Mr.. Jellerson's admin
lStratlon, have, in their day, agitated the
nation and ever threatened the Union and
reflect that these have all, with scarcely an
exception, been satisfactorily settled by the
Democratic party, we must be deeply i'm
pressed with this high tribute to the Dem.
ocraiic principles, our political opponents
themselves being the Judges.
From the very nature of things, as well
as from the peculiar character of our ipsIi.
tuuons, two great parties must always ex-
lst' and may add, always ought to exist,
IN this country; the one conservative the
other progressive. The one c.ingng to
the past, the other intent on advancing
gradually with the spirit of The age. The
one claiming power for the Government,
the other for the people. The one acting
as clog to the other, and sometimes pur-
haps impeding its too rapid progrcss.-
The one is the great Wing, and the other
the great Democratic party of the country.
1t is our pride and our glory to belong to
the party which, whilst holding fast to the
good, entertains no such sIavish reverence
Tor antiquity as to prevent it from adyoca.
ting and adopting all new measures, consis-
tent with liberty and order, calculated {,
benefit the great mass of mankind
Holding these principles, we should
cease to be Democrats if we did not ardent
ly and actively sympathize with the patriots
OF all nations in their struggles tolree them
selves from the sharLIes of dcspolsm. and
to regain the lostrights of man. We have
Witnessed with intense anxiety, the MANY
heroic efforts, within the past and present
year, OF the downrOddon people through
out Europe, to achieve liberty aud indepcr-
deaco, and have had to deplore their dsas.
troas termination. Brute force now rules
IN that quarter of the globe; but vet En-
rope IS not destined 10 become Cossack.
It's true that the brave Hungarians and
Germans and Romans have bene conouer-
cd but their blood has not yet been shed
in vain. In the Providence of God, il viii
sooner or later rise from the earth and claim
a just retrlbutlon. The Spartan band at
Thermopyl@ were sacrificed by treachery
and overwhelmed by numbers but This
srcrifce was both the prelude and the in
centlve to TIM triumph of liberty over the
host Of barbarious and des-
pouc invader. Mans destiny is to be free;
to worship his God according to the die
tates OF his own Conscience, and to estab-
llsh the form of Government best adapted
to secure his rights and liberties. Reason
has long since exploded the slayish doe
trine of the divine right of Kings.
In the meantime, we ought to be aware
that our Government is an object of mex
hate to the despots ollhe earth
The existence of free Democratic Repub-
lie any where is standing reproach to
them; and ifthey had the power to immo-
late our institutions they would eagerly
rush to the sacrifice. 1t is our eyamnio
which has disturbed the dismal and opprcs-
siye calm Of despotism throughout tho
world, and encouraged mankind to assert
their rights. No unworthy compliance on
the part OF our government to foreign des-
pots,-no trucking to them,-wilI ever
c'nciIlate their favor however it nv rrr
chase their contempt. 70 act an ;rdo
pendent part, yielding them Justice bot
nothing more, Is our true course, and tho
only policy worthy of a great, free, and in
dependent nation. 1t is power. and Douo.
alone, which commands their respect ,.J
thank GoD we possess this power. If
we did not tie fate which now threatens
The an'Ie0, and renowned federal Republic
of Switzerland, might soon be ours.
our friend and feIIo,,,-