The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-08-14
From the N York Tribune.
WHIGS AND DEMOCRATS.

WHIGS AND DEMOCRATS.
We Gnd in The Popular Tribune state
: nent Of Democratic principles taken from
: Southern paper, in which the impression
IS designed to be conveyed that the Wing
party holds other principles than those Of
Democracy, and is less democratic in its
j, character and tendencies than that which
seeks to monopolze to itsefthe democratic
name. The editor of The Popular Ifi-
!, bune (this is the journal Of the Icarian Com
munists at Nauvoo,) asks for the programme
IF the Wings that he may lay the same be-
: fore his readers, evidently supposing that j,
mus. be something quite different from that
! Of the Democrats although the one he
) publishes is made up of doctrines 80 undis
; puted and universally received in this
country, as to be almost common place
For instance, we are told in this platform,
: that the people are the only source oflegit.
5 mate power: that the Constitution is writ
ten grant of power, limited and defnate
! that the civil is paramount to the military
. power; that the elections arc free and suf-
1 frage universal but there shall be no he
: reditary Office, order or title; no permanent
national deb, no prescription ofopinion, or
Of public discussion; that public salaries
shall be moderate and economy prevail, and
' so forth.
} Now we will assure The Popular Tribune
j, that on all matters Of fundamental political
j doctrine we know Of no difference between
e the two parties. One is just as democratic
. az the other; one believes as truly in the
: people, in popular government, in filling all
j, Offices by popular election, in universal suf
1 frage, in subordnaton ofthc military to the
. civil power as the other.
Undoubtedly there was time when the
!, party name Of Democrat had a distinct
: and legitimate meaning in this country
1 Then there was one party which believed
D that the people needed TO be governed, and
another which believed that they could
, govern themselves more wisely and bene-
1 icially than could any rulers over them
e The one was the party Of tradition, the 9TH
r er Of democracy. But nova days all this
!, is changed. 1t is SO well proved that the
G people can govern themselves that only
c here and there an Old Foggy distrusts the
/ truth. Democracy is triumphant to de-
], gree that even its early apostles would hard
+ ly have been ready for. Noseverer test OF
/. it's worth could be conceived than the change
/ lately introduced in so many States, where
> the Judiciary is made elective. In o
: country where that has been successfully
E accomplished, the fundamental principles Of
b democracy can no longer be said to be in
n dispute.
G Nopretense is more unfounded than tha,
e Of the present Opposition to be exclusively
# or superorIy sDenocratic.' In justice te
o tho American people that claim cannot be
J. admitted for an instant. The whole people
are democratic, without regard TO party dis
i tinctons. For instance, The Tribune is .
h democratic journal, and we think it would
5 be hard to find one more uniformly, con-
sistently or thoroughly in favor of whatever
d tends to increase the popular character 0
5 our government. We say this not by way
5 Of boasting, but TO prove the truth OF ou
) assertion with regard to the two parties.
: And vet, earnest democrats as we are, we
# are Wings. And we are Wings because
il the policy of that party, while j, is equally
q democratic, seems to US far more favorable
IS to the welfare and independence Of the
J. Republic, and thus to the cause OF Democ
d racy generally, than the policy Of the Up
r position.
e Ii is the glory of the United States thai
]. the great controversy between Democracy
II and Authority has here been conclusively
' settled in favor Of tho former. This it il
j. which makes our politics seem small and IN
r interesting to those who come here from tn
n ardent arenas Of Europe where The two arr
d still pilted agninst each other for the deadl,
d struggle. We have got through with al
J. that, have fought the good fight, and have
finished our course so far as that matter j
concerned. Thus our public affairs have, j,
@ great degree, become what all na,iona
: affairs should be, matters of business ant
internal economy, not Fundamental prln
s. cple; and the constanttendency is to make
d them more and more SO. This indicates al
# advanced and improved condition ofthings
l. Democracy once established, aristocratl'
distinction and privileges abolished, free
dom of speech, Of association and Of actor
II perfectly guaranteed, the people are enable'
?. 10 devote all their energies to the positive
70 work of progress, TO industry, education
ID the increase of the general wealth, the con
e sequent diffusion of happiness and virtue
'e and to all social changes which approve
r themselves to their judgment And lfpoI
r itcs are less interesting in this state o
e things, it is because they are really in the
Of normal condition, while in Europe where
ID great principles are still controver'ed ant
'e must be fought for, they are passing through
i a momontous if not doubtful crisis. There
II the strength Of the people is engaged il
'r that struggle, and the positive work, which
g is here pursued with such energy and sue
d cess. must wait Till the crisis is over.
II There is then no essential difference be
10 tween our two great parties as TO funda
'r mental principles, although tho Opposition
organs would lain have it believed there is
Bu, there is difference as to measures
,eI and this difference We ask the lcarians ant
o- all other new comers in the country care
fully to ponder. The main point in tina
le difference is this: The Wings hold tha
le American manufactures ought to be pro