Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-12-24
Xhc FREQ Democracy, Conventions, Cam
didafes. Sc

The Free Democracy of the country appear san
guine and active. State Conventions have been
called or held, in many of the states, to plan vi
gorous campaign for the future, and the presses of
the party, we perceive, have very generally put at
the head of their columns candidates for the Pre-
sidency, in 1856. ---
Now We have no objection, had we even right
to object to any all of this manifestation of zeal
on the part of brethren, but we do not see our
own duty to the Free Democratic cause in precise
ly the same channel.
Our opinion is that the issues which made the
old democratic and wing parties are not now and
have not been before the country for several years
and that in reality there was but one party besides
the Free Democracy, in the late Presidential con-
test. But this fact, apparent to remains yet to
De demonstrated to the great body of the people,
and out of its demonstration as also the demon
stration OF the fact that the party in power rpo
slavery party, is to grow the vitality and efficiency
of Free Democratic party. We all know that
thousands and tens of thousands were with us in
sentiment in the last campaign, who then thinking
that some vital matters were pending between the
old parties acted with them and who still think SO
and still struggle to maintain the old organization
and will so struggle until transporting facts shall
demonstrate to them beyond question the truth of
what we state, and these are the men who are to
give vitality, and efficiency, to the Free Democracy
Progress is the law of mind The principles
which have from time to time been Incorporated
into governments, have commenced with a few
have been of slow growth, and have finally trium-
phed by forcing themselves into the popular mind
and expanding it TO acomprehcnsion of and har-
mony with them. Years ago few minds were
awakened to the wrong of American slavery, and
they made it the leading question in their political
action. They prayed and preached, and printed,
and pleaded in every manner, and their numbers
have increased from year to year. Besides this,
nnumerable influences operating to develop the
public heart and mind, have been at work, and the
result of the whole of it is, that the general mind
in its onward course, finds itself face to face with
this great wrong, directly in the path of progress,
and completely blocking it up. Unpopular mind
travelling over and rising above one question after
another, finds, as we said, the slavery question
the next question in order demanding its cogni-
zance, and the exercise ofts energies. That qucs-
ton has, in short, grown to be National question:
and it will organize parties with reference to ITSELF
and no power can prevent it.
Such being the condition of things, it looks to
if the duty of the Free Democratic party in
wolves a policy little different from that which
has heretofore governed it. The time has arrived
when it is to be party in practice we'll the
ory-when it is to strive to give its principles a
foothold, however slight, in the administration of
the government. If few only believed this to be
an important question, and the great mass of the
people were struggling over other important issues
then it would be policy for those few to keep
close and strict organization, and perhaps to NOM
mate their candidates four years in advance But
such is not the case Old parties are dsorganizcd
and broken up. A new party is in power as pro-
slavery party, and the elements of opposition to it
are yet mainly to be organized and combined
Then The practical question presents ITSELF are
we wiling to be moulded in with this multitude,
or sh5 we detcrminedly constitute ourselves IN
immutablc party with an immutable PLATFORM and
an immutalAe candidate. to which all must bow
who wish to help make party of freedom. We
like the Pittsburg platform, and there is no man
for President, We should prefer to John P. Hale
but consider a moment. Some of our friends are
sanguine enough to believe we shall triumph in SO
To do this late vote must be increased some
twelve or fourteen times and are we now to pre-
scribe terms and conditions to this multitude! Our
war upon the old democracy was not and is not
that it did and does not progress fast enough in
freedom, but that it turned its back directly upon
its duty and refrigerated instead of advanced. We
neither expect ask party to keep up with us
in all things at all times; only ask it shall keep
its face in the right direction and move as fast as
it can. If we see truths and beauties it docs not
we shall tell it of thcm but in action we shall be
of it and with it. 1t looks to us if large
party will necessarily be formed whose line of march
will be in the right direction, but we do not know
whether it will start from the Pittsburg plat
form, with John p Hale as its commander in chief
or not We wish it might and shall do what we
can to have it, but if it goes in the right direction
We shall not be disposed to make the point of star
ting a vital question.
The drift of our remarks will be apprehended.
Frank Pierce goes into power the representative
of conservatism not progression-of whiggery re-
ally, not democracy. He is pledged to maintain
a certain condition things eternally, and the pow
er of his administration must and will be employ
cd to redeem his pledge. Then all democratic, |
minds must and will leave him and I
organise n party, which party, in virtue of
the necessities that make it, must be party of
freedom. Then we doubt the policy of the few
who a: vet compose the Free Democratic party
at this time holding conventions, drawing lines,
building platforms, and especially making cand-
dates. BY so doing must repel instead of in
vite accessions We arc not large enough to swal- |
low ten times our number, and it is not reasonable
to expect body much outnumberng us to cheer
fully enlist in an army where the minority have al
ready defined all the duties and appointed all the .
standard bearers. Let us wait and see what time
develops. Not tone ofus, we apprehcnd, is in dan
ger of losing his devotion to the cause, and should
we be mistaken in our conjcctures to the present
and future of parties, the mistake will appear soon
enough to enable us to gather all our force for the
next campaign.
For our own part, we mean to spare no effort to
disseminate and establish Free Democratic prnci-
ples and correct principles generally, at all times,