The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-22
WORDS ARE THINGs-THE INDEPENDENT DE
M0CRACY.

The name Democracy has charm Tor the
Freemans ear Why Because it signifies
government by the People, and implies the
right of the People to govern themselves, and,
consequently, the right of every man to his own
freedom. Because, moreover, II is associated
with all the struggles of the people to establish
Governments for themselves, from the earliest
historical epoch to the present times
There is a party in this country which as
serts a right to be called the Democracy In
some respects slis claim is well founded. Inns
marty in its creeds and formularies, recognises
the fundamental doctrine Of government by
the People, namely Equal Rights to Life Lab
crty, and Happiness: and endeayors to realize
these doctrines in several very important appll-
cations. Still this party, seeking the control OF
the National Government, and finding 1t hard
to obtain that control without the AID oil
great special interest antagonistic IN essence 10
Democracy, has been induced to waive the ap-
plication of those doctrines to questions affect
inc that interest This statement represents
the Democracy compromising with Slavery.
Hence the necessity for another party to
carry out Democratic principles in their appIl-
cations to Slavery, AS well as other questions
and interests. Such a party has arisen, and
| has called itself the Free Democracy or the
( Free Soil Party But it is misnamed for Its
| aims are more comprehensive than the mere
80 NOT nX 20
true of it that it is free. Except where Slavery
is concerned. the other Democracy Is just as
free. Its proper name, therefore, is the indie
pendent Democracy; for it asserts Its perfect
independence of the Slave Power. The proper
name of the other Democracy is the Compro-
mise Democracy; for it seeks its objects through
compromise with the Slave Power
Let then the friends of Freedom claim their
own name. Let them call themselves the In
dependent Democracy and insist on being so
called by others. In this way they will gain
an advantage of name which, justly belongs to
them, and at the same time will avoid an in
ydious and disparagng assumption as between
themselves and the Compromise Democrats.
In this way too, they will gain an advantage
in permanence; for, while other party designa-
tons have proved transitory, Democracy alone
has remained constant from generation to gen.
Grafton.
NEW YoRK.-A meeting of the Independent
Democracy of the third Congressional district
have resolved on a representation at the Ma
tional Convention to be held at Pittsburgh,
August H. They have laid down the follow
ing platform:
/. No more slave-catching in the free States
2 No more traffic in the public lands
g. The distribution of the public lands to
actual settlers only, in limited quantities
4. intervention against intervention.
Messrs A. G. Levy, VIM. West and VIM. J.
Young, were appointed delegates; and David
G. Croley, Alba Honeywell, and J. M. Spttle,
were chosen as substitutes, to 90 to Pittsburgh,
August |.
And, on motion, Messrs B. F. Butler, Gerrt
Smith, Lewis Tappan, David Marsh, Charles
Schif, and VIM Rowe were recommended as
suitable persons to represent the State at large