Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-10-15
For the Sentinel.
Democratic Progress.

DeUOCrdtlC frOSfeSS.
Mn. EDITOR & REApERs-How delight
fully pleasant it is to the Philanthropist, to
behold on every hand, the people, the intel
ligent masses in every direction, moving
with energy and discretion for reform, for
progress forward, to promote the best in
terests of man, the cause of Humanity. 1t
is not the mere pecuniary interest only Of
mar that is sought to be improved, but hu-
mainly in its most benevolent and kindly
sense is encouraged and cherished. The
building of canals and railroads, the tele-
graph and the steam engine, are mainly
useful TO the capitalist and business man in
pecuniary point. But the freedom of the
slave, the free use of the unoccupied public
lands, and the attainment and exemption OF
a home for every person, is a humanitary
reform, which all now appear to demand.
But it is plain to our view that there is fault
somewhere in our public institutions, that
our public servants are so slow to obey the
just demands of the people. But obey they
must ere long. The demands Of the Shylock
for the pound of flesh, or the last footing OF
the poor family, home on earth, II not
always be regarded and satisfied. Soon
will the old promise be realized, when eve
ry one shall be able eto sit or lie down un-
der his or her own vine and fig lfruit) tree,
and no one to st,'-when man shall no
longer be empowered and stimulated by
law fo molest, to torment and distress lis
innocent fe low man. s-s--..
The successful efforts too, of Philanthro-
pists for schools, and for the general diffu-
sion of educa ton and knowledge to all, to
the poor as well as the rich, and the estab-
lishment { f asy lums for the insane, the deaf,
dumb and blind, and assocla tions for tenn
perance and various other humane purpos-
es, are all say, exceedingly pleasant to
the philanthropist. But still there are many
evils left untouched, many ills not yet re-
moved. Among them is the remains of in
temperance, and the distresses caused by
poverty, by idleness, by monorolies of the
land and Of money, Of vast wealth and pow
er by the cunning few, to the exclusion of
the many, equally meritorious and indus
trious, but less artful, and perhaps more
honest, kind and benevolent. Our laws are
made now to encourage, protect, uphold
and perpe' uate those monopolies in the rich
and the poor and less cunning are left to
shift for themselves, to defend their rights,
assaiIed as they are by such unjust laws,
and by their more artiul and more lucky
neighbours. The land monopolist is fully
protected in his monopoly of thousands and
tens of thousands of acres more than he can
enjoy or cultivate, while his less fortunate
but equally honest and industrious neigh
Dor, is denied the God given right to a
place whereon to place his foot or build his
home. -
All these evils that are capable Of being
remedied by legal enactments, by whole
some Fd61ic law, might quick be remedied
did the people themselves possess the pow
er which they have the right to claim and
exercise-the power to make their own
laws and execute them-the power to legis-
late and to administer justice under law.
But it may, perhaps. be said-indeed, it is
often said-that the people do make and
execute the laws in this free and happy
country. Such however, is not the fact.
The mass Of the peo; lie exercise no such
privilege. The electors do, indeed, vote for
and elect men to make laws. Some one or
two hundred thousands of the population Of
this great State, mainly Influenced by
small number of leaders, elect the legisla-
tors to make laws TO govern more than a
million and half Of people. And any re-
forms that are called for by the mass of the
people, it costs many years of anxious ef-
forts to effect, if, indeed, they can ever be
effected.
Let the people assume the right to which |
they are by nature entitled, the right to reg
ulate their own concerns, to make and ad-
minister their own laws for their own use
and benefit, and all proper reforms may
an will be promptly and energetically, but
and discreetIy adopt d and ad-
ministered. And if mistakes should be
made, the evils would rest on the people
who made, and who would have the sole
power to alter or annul; and corrections
would be promptly made, for few men will
rest quietly under expressions ii themselves
ca easily remove them.
1t wi be objected that the people cannot
meet toe ether and take the time to discuss
measures and enact laws. Such arguments
have been often used against pure Democ-
racy. 1t is even said that pure Democra-
cy is inpra cticable, for the reason that the
people cannot all cooperate TO enact laws.
But the progress Of public sentiment will
give the lie to that sander on democracy !