The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-08-04

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wonderful TO relate, while it was healing
smelled 30 badly that the church had to b,
closed. Surgical treatment however, at last
oyercame the inflammation (Of the wooden leg }
and the cicatrix remained, in visible proof Of
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NAMEs-THEIR VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE.
We observe that the State Central Commit
tee of New York address their call for State
| Convention, which will be found in another
column, "to the Independent Democracy of the
State of New York" We are glad to see this
and it affords a fitting occasion to say few
words on the value and significance of names.
That words arc things is universally ac-
knowledged The words" chosen to desig-
nate party organizations are especially things"
They stand to the general eye, and for foreign
nations, and for history, as descriptive of the
character, nature, and tendencies of the organ
izations themselves.
At the present moment in this country, par
ties are in the process of dissolution and reor-
ganization. But in this process they obey q
law which is as real as that which controls the
decay and renewal of the forms of nature.
Those whose vested interests or timid con-
servatism make them averse to change and
lead them to oppose progress, and distrust all
reforms, and especially the greatest reform
which the crisis demands-the divorce of the
General Government from the Slave Power
and its anti-progressive and despotic infuen-
ces-will naturally array themselves on one
side; those who confde in God and the People,
who dare to trust principles, who love progress,
who are anxious to rescue the country from the
grasp Of the Slave Power, and to vindicate for
her place in the van of the worlds advance
ment will naturally array themselves on the
other.
The existing Administration makes adhesion
to the Pro. Slavery resolutions of the Baltimore
platform the basis of its party organization.
These are, in the worst possible sense, conserv-
alive They assert the supremacy of Slavery
in the most odious form they introduce the
hateful and insulting word fnality" as the
characteristic of the Fugitive Slave Act they
deny the right of tho people to examine for
and discuss for themselves, the pro-
priety Of Legislative acts of their servants; they
attempt to throw over the most disgusting des-
potism of the Slave Power the shield of the
National Government, and to compel from the
People unhcsitating acquiescence in its DEGREES
This Administration calls itself democratic, but |
it has not the shadow of title to the name |
ltrepresents only the irresponsible Slave Power,
which usurped the control and dictated the |
platforms Of the last Baltimore Convention,
which assembled as democratic body. The
most devoted friend Of the rights of the people, |
the most strenuous opposer of monopoly legis.
latiOn, the best and frmest resster of corrup
ton and speculation--in word, the truest |
and best Democrat in the land, can expect no
favor from it, unless he bows down and wor-
ships the Moloch set up at Baltimore. Jeffer-
son himself Macon himself could expect its
smiles on no other condition. If this is democ-
racy, diabolism is religion
But under what name must the opponents
of the Slave Power naturally rally? At Buffalo,
in lS4S, they took the name of the Free De.
mocracy in Difference to the feelings of the
New York Barnburners. The Pittsburgh plat
form, as it was originally drawn up, substituted
for this designation that of the Independent
Democracy. The committee to which the reso-
lutons were referred, had some difficulty in
agreeing as to the best designation, and finally
consented to continue that adopted at Buffalo
and their action, without any consideration of
this matter, was adopted by the Convention.
We observe general and increasing tend
ency to adopt the designation of Independent
Democracy We are rather glad of this. We
owe the Barnburners nothing. That there are
true and faithful opponents of Slavery among
them who deplore their false position, We do
not doubt; but of their organization nothing
better can be said than that the friends of
freedom and progress generously trusted it and
were shamefully betrayed. We don't want the
name, as adopted from them. We prefer that
our organization be known as the Independent
Democracy or, 10 use the expression Of Sena-
tor CHASE, as Democrats, by the grace of
God, free and independent" This designation
has many advantages, practically, over that of
Free Democrats, Notwithstanding that the
words free and independent are nearly synono-
nous. The main thing, however is to insist
distinctly and perseveringly on our clear title to
the name-Democracy and Democrats-with or
without prefxes or afixes. These are the only
names which describe the measures and men
of the Pittsburgh platform. Free Soil, Anti
Slavery, represent only partial aspects of that
great creed of Freedom and Progress. No man
who stands upon it and acts in the organza-
ton created by it, ought to allow himself to be
called by any other name than that Of Demo-
crst No European lover Of liberty-no Kos.
suth or Misunderstanding the three platforms,
could hesitate for moment to recognise in
that Of Pittsburgh the only exposition Of living,
practical working democracy.
Homeland we are glad 10 notice this--they
who come among us from the old world, refu-
gees from tyranny--and especially the Ger.
mans--who look to democracy for those doc
trines of liberty and that devotion to progress
which history has taught them to associate
with that noble name, disappointed by the
apostacy Of the old line Democracy from the
faith and practice Of Freedom, are beginning
to look more and more 10 the young vigorous,
and progressive Independent Democracy, for
the realization Of their hopes from America.
Let US hold fast to that name II is our own,
by every right. Let US never surrender it.
Vow and then some ono argues that it will