Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-03-31
.rHE YOUNG pENIocRACY."

The Democratic party 10 heiu OS1'"Ni ~
Yhe cohesive power of pcSiic plumber Is
apparently falsi6ed by It's present frugmen-
tary condition. A common cause and the
prospect Of rich reward often bind men
together very closely but, when quar-
rel arises as to who shall take command,
or who ,hall have the largest share of booty,
the squabble will most probably terminate
fatally to the interests of all. Such seems
10 be the present state of affairs, in the
boosted harmonious Democratic party
As Col. THOMPSON would say, chaos relgns
in the countless fractional parts OF the lrag-
mentary Democracy. The last OF Office has
been too much for the devotion of party
leaders, bent upon elevation to the highest
honors of the nation, and each sustained by
iaterested and unyielding retaners. The
consequence is that the "house is d.
vided against itself" and we have high au-
thority for saying that when such is the
case 1t must inevitably fall.
Independent of numberless minor factions,
the party is now divided into two grand d.
visions-Old and Young Democracy. The
latter, though less numerous, we consider
far the more dangerous of the two; and we
can but regard with interest independent
of its effect upon our own party :he strug-
gle for supremacy in which they are now
engaged. Berated as they are, as relics OF
an antique generation of politicians, too
slow in their motions for this age Of railroads
and telegraphs, we should much prefer to
con6de the interests of the country to the
hands of "Old Fogies" than trust them to
the care of the progressive Jehus who glory
in the name Of "Yonng Democracy" 1t
is better to remain stationary than to rush
madly onward, under the mistaken idea
that all progress is improvement. Better
the slow but sure motion of the coach-and-
four, with an experienced driver, who will
conduct US safely on our journey, than the
break-neck speed of the locomotive, in the
hands of a rash and unskilllul engineer,
who Will run 1t off the track or burst the
boiler. There is little enough conserva-
tism to be found in any portion OF the mis-
named Democratic party; and an organized
assault is now being made upon what little
there is. Under the lead of STEPHEN A.
DoULAss, the "Young Democracy" have
rallied for an onslaught upon every thing
that savors Of conservatism and moderation.
Distant be the day when the reins of gov
eminent shall fall into their reckless hands!
In their eyes every thing that savors OF the
past is unworthy Of the present. The Wis
dom of our fathers and the lessons Of eXpe-
rience are set aside as useless things, and
the crude theories of KoSSUTH or KIN
KLE are substituted for the sound doctrine
bequeathed, and the parting counsel given
to his country by WASHINGTON himself
Alas, we repeat, alas the day, when the
''little Giant" with young Democracy for
afuicrum shall turn the world upside down."
1t is gratifying to perceive that there are
men in the Democratic party even, prePar-
ed to check the strides Of these rapid states
men men who dare to
"Beard the lion in his den
The DouLAss in his hall"
When we see the young men of the party,
as BREcKENRrDGE, of Kentucky refusing to
enlist under the banner, and battling against
the radicalism of Young Democracy, we are
encouraged to hope that moderate counsels
will yet prevail over wild theores-honest
men over mere scheming politicians.
AS was remarked before, however, there
is but little conservatism in any portion of
the Democratic party. Asa choice ofevils,
we sympathlze with Old Fogyism in the
Kilkenny fight which Is now going on. 1t
is generally conceded that the difficulties
with which the party are surrounded are OF
such character that extricaton is next TO
impossible, and we cordially trust the re-
suit may be full and complete triumph of
the Wing party, within whose pale alone
the interests and institutions of the country
are secure. Once confde the administra-
ton of affairs to Young Democracy, and
we would not give fig for its peace and
prosperity. In the language Of the Rich
mond Republican, which we notice since
writing the above, ''we have no belief that
young Fogyism will ever accomplish the
ends which it processes to have in view
1t will never make our country freer or
stronger than it is now. II will never hber-
ate a single serf in Europe. But there is
danger that it will produce exactly opposite
results that it will disgust the friends OF
rational liberty abroad and rivet the chains
of foreign depotism; and that, finally, by
involving the United States in foreign wars
and civil commotion, it will pave the
way for a disunlon of the States, and the
establishment of a monarchy on our own
shores"
WESTMINSTER REvIEw,-Contents o.
the last number, January, 1881. Repre-
sentative Reform; 2. Shell Fish: their Ways
and Works; 8. The Relation between EN-
ployers and Employed; A. Mary Stuart; D
The Latest Continental Theory of Leglsla
,;on & Jul;a Won Krudener, as Coquettt