The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-01
THE REPUBLIC.
The Democracy.


.Aropos to the question recently started
as to which of the two parties, the Wing
or the Locofoco, is best entitled to trace
its descent from the Jefersonian Demo
Gratis, we copy portion of chapter from
the very interesting Memoirs Of William
Writ, by Kennedy, recently published by
Lea & Blanchard. 1t agrees substan-
tally with the account given by Mr.. CLAY,
in his reply to Mr.. GRUMPY, in the cele-
brated debate on the protest:
"The election terminated in favor of General
jackson. He was inaugurated as President of the
| United States on the 18th of March, 1929 On this
| day the Democratic party, which had been pre-
dominant in the administration of the affairs Of the
| General Government for twenty eight years, sur
rendered its power into the hands of that party
which had been brought together by the popularity
of the hero of New Orleans The new party was
miscellaneous one Ii embraced all that portion of
| the Federalists who were anxious to come into
poverty no means small host. Ii absorbed
large number of the young politicians who had
grown up to manhood during the period of Gene
| raj Jackson's military career. 1t attracted and
embodied such portions ofhe of the people
conceived the Chief Magistracy to be appropriate
reward for distinguished military exploits-always
| n large number of persons in every government.
The leaders in this combination were eager and
practiscd politicians, bred in the schools of both of
the parties which had heretofore divided the coun-
try. Their political creed, therefore, various,
according to the school in which each had been edu
Gated; but it was accommodating, and sufficiently
held in the back ground to enable it to await
events The opinions of the chief himself were so
far indefinite " give each section of his party
hopes of finding it an easy matter TO comply with
his taste in respect 10 measures. Old Democrats
and old Federalists were united in his Cabinet,
without any visible contrariety of position. 1t was
an era of surrender and compromise of old antipa-
thies, with implied promise ofsilence, for the flu
ture, on old topics. By cones to be by cones.
The destination of the party to be settled here
after. Its principles and measures to be left
to the chapter Of accidents. For the present, all
differences were submerged beneath the Gen
erals unbounded and unparalleled popularity.
This was the condition of that new party which had
just overthrown political domination of twenty
eight years. and which was fated itself to be over.
thrown in twenty years
''The Democratic party, on the other hand, was
also destined to witness some changes in its organ
ization. 1t necessarily became the recipient of al
those who could not fall into the ranks of the newl
party. The country instinctvely takes sides
Those who cannot consort with new administra-
ton associate themselves with those who oppose it,
Where every man must vote, the suffrage that can
not be given for those in power must be given for
those who are against them. When there arc but
two parties this is inevitable.
"Under the influence of this necessity, that por-
ton of the Federal party which could not follow
their brethren into the ranks of General jackson
dropped into the ranks of the Democrats. In this
strange reconciliation of old elements, the former
party laid aside. The Democratic
party, with its new allies, thenceforth took the
name of National Republicans. Those in power
called themselves Jackson men. The course of ad-
ministration, in few years afterwards, was such
to awaken all those ancient ealousies which had
reused the spirit of the Wings of the Revolution
From that era the Democratic party resumed its
oldest and most cherished designation, and came
forth once more, in full organization, the Wing
party-in which name it has now triumphcd; in
which name also, it won that short victory of few
months, sadly memorable for the first funeral and
the first detection in the White House.
''The Jackson party also compelled 10 seek
new designations. In due course of time il became
the Van Buren, party and, as that was of a nature
even more fleeing than the last, it accounted
piece of good fortune when it stumbled upon
the name Of The Democracy which lay dcrelict
by the waysidc Neither parties nor individuals
apt to be oyer-scrupulous in assuming titles
which may turn 10 proht-however little they may
camport with the character of the wcarer. In a
state of war, especially, titles often assumed
which denote the very opposite of the true charac-
ter Thus il has fallen out at last, that they who
made battle against and overthrow the Demo-
cratic party, have, with the other spoils Of victory
seized and worn the very name itself Of the van
quished."