Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-03-28
The Democratic PARTY.

snder the direction of the disciples and follow
ers OF that patriot and sage. We do not know
that it would be too much to say that it has
always been under the influence of democratic
principles. 1t is true that, by an unrareled
system OF fraud and corruption, the whig party
succeeded in the election CT the younger Ad-
ans, and defeating jackson, though the peo-
Piles choice. and twice since have We been driv-
en- to the wall. Yet the wing party have
either been held in check by one or both
branches of Congress. or have not been suf4i-
GENTLY long in power TO turn the stream from
Its channel. 1t only served for while to cor
iupt its waters 1t had run too long and
wore its bed too deep to be SO easily forced
from its original boundaries. Though the ad-
ministration of Adams was fraught with inju-
dicious and injurious measures. they were not
sufficiently long in force to fasten themselves
upon the general policy of the country, SO a.
to produce any very permanent injuries. No
sooner had the wished for hour arrived when
the people could strip from the usurpers their
illgotten power than they consigned them to
that obscurity which they now doubly de-
dent than ever to those measures which the
blood and treasure of Revolutionary patriots
had been sacrificed to gain-which are breathed
in the Declaration and of which the Constitu-
ton is the palladium.
We give u terancc to no new sentiment
when we say that the whole tendency of wing
measures and of whig legislation from the
r.
az, time has been to copy from English prcce-
dents. Their policy has been to favor particu-
lar intsrests-to rear up unwieldy monopoiies
to lord it over their dependencies, while the
great mass of the people those who are our
countrys supporters in peace, and its defend
ers in war, would be left to the tender mercies
of those whom legislation had made rich and
would keep This, we say, has been the
real object or at least the direct tendency of
the policy of the whis party. The National
Bank was of English extraction and conse-
quently was most vigorously opposed by JEFF
fsrson, as unsuited to the simplicity of repub-
lican institutions. The high tariff had the
same parentage, and tended to the same end,
70 impoverish one class for the grandeur and
dignity of another, to establish a monied aris-
tocracy to live in luxurious Incidence Such
exclusive privileges, it has been the studied
policy of the Democratic party to oppose
The first and mightiest engine 10 effect the
above ends. was burst asunder by the Roman
frmness of Jackson. He threw a bomb into |
their citadel, and the explosion was a terrific |
He effected what jefferson in vain un-
dertook, and rid this government forever of |
one of the most potent engines of corruption, |
that ever paralyzed the arm of legislation =
and instead of being consigned to that igno-
minious oblivion so prophetically predicted for
him, he sleeps in honored grave-a grave
which future generations will delight to visit,
as containing the dust Of fearles. patriot
and champion of equal rights.
After struggling yainly TO resucitate this |
monster of iniquity they cast about for an other
Ozark freisN ted for the same port They at
length put all their force upon the tariff 1t
was now give US high tariff or the country |
is ruined To give their appeals popular |
turn they sought to entrap the people by pro-
claiming before popular assemblies and emblaz-
oning in glazing capitals" Protection to |
home industry" 1t was no longer the Bank |
but the tariff, and nothing else that had made
England ''mistress of the seas" and "frst
among nations" The old "obselete idea had
given place to new and better dspensation,
under the influence of which peasants were to |
become princes, and the precious metals TO be !
garnered from sheep skins. The doctrine of |
cam align of 1870. The most extravagant pro-
fsssions were made by its advocates, and not
few, captivated by the golden visions, caught |
at the glittering bait. Believing what they
wished to be trne. some, aye. many, hoping to |
find salvation in shorter way than by that
steady and sure policy which alone can lead |
nations or individuals to greatness and grand
eur. forsook the old standard under which they |
had 80 long been victorious, and went over to |
the enemy. But mindful of an old saving,
which 1t is unnecessary to repeat, we will say
little OF that campaign Suffice it to say, it |
vas one Of those victories which are worse 4
than deteat-enough to make an American |
sick OF his country, or at least deplore its de-
generacy. To see mu!titudes of rational men |
following and singing peans to coons and ci-
der barrels. and to hear corresponding appeals
to an enlightened people, when about to exer-
else one of the highest and most responsible |
duties ever guaranteed to man-such, VIC say, |
preclude all comment, and render language
contsmptible. The result of those unscrupu-
ious efforts is well known. The people finding
they had been grossly cheated and betrayed |
that they had mist ken shadow for substance, |
fssurned again to their first love, and We
'ohoiy hoped that the experience of the past
YOU'D serve to make them wiser in future.
lhe administration of Polk, big with stirring
events, closed. The Mexican war conducted
Ny him to a successful termination, brouph; to
hghta man before unknown. and 90 far a. -.
know deservedly so. but who by som. freak If
fortune, by the successful exploit at Rp.ns
Vista. surrounded himself with a halo NJ MIL;
-tary renown. His political views were ,bar
unknown as well they might be. for his home
had been away. from the haunts of civilized |
man. The wings, III veri6cation of the old
maxim, that ga sinking man will catch at a
straw" at once turned their eyes to Kim. They
saw. or thought they saw in him a second
Washington. The great Embodiment under
whose lead they had experienced so many glo-
rions defeats. was left "alone in his glory" to
b consoled in his private retreat BY few
fr;>uda whom his eloouonco arJ ob;~.,-- = !