Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-12-07
THE MISSION OF DEMOCRACY.


The following well considered remarks as the
true mission of democracy in the world, we clip
from the excellent Inaugural Message of Gov
Johnson, of Tennessee:
81 have not deemed it improper, nor out oil
place on this occasion, TO make a single alluslon
to the young men of our country. Many OF
them, while at our academies and colleges, ana
often in the study of their profession, impercept-
IDLY imbibe notions prejudicial to Democracy.
Their wealth, and too frequently their precept-
ors-many of whom are bigotted and suPerclll-
Gus on account of their literary requirements, or
assumed superior information on most subjects
INSPIRE their students with false ideas of their
own superiority mixed with superabundance
Of selfesteem, which causes them to feel that
the great mass of mankind were intended by
their Creator to be hewers Of wood and draw
ers of waters" that it is in this Government, as
it was in olden Rome, between the Patrcians
and Plebians; where, in fact, the people never
enjoyed, for one moment, that pure liberty and
freedom of thought and action which is enjoyed
by the people of the United States.
To this class of our young men have few
remarks to make, in reference to the great prn
ciples Of Democracy the scope and design OF
which, greatly fear, they have, as yet. wholly
failed to comprehend, and if comprehended, not
duly appreciated. And in doing so, do not in
tend, on this occasion, to enter into any analyt-
ical or metaphysical disquisition upon the great
principles of Democracy. At present shall
content myself by assuming, and taking it as a
conceded fact, that Democracy, or mans capabll-
ity to govern HIMSELF is principle that eriStS ];
that it is inherent in the very nature OF man. that
it is that ingredient in the compound called man,
which enables him TO determine between right
and wrong, in all political affairs. In this prln-
ciple, Democracy consists in his capabllity OF
selfgovernment. 1t is that which enables him
to reason correctly, and to lift himself above all
animal creation. 1t is this principle that consi-
tutes the intelligence of man or, in other words
it is that in man which partakes most highly OF
the nature and character of Him in whose image
he is made-which term the Divinity Of Man.
And in proportion as this Divinity is enlarged,
the Man becomes more and more capable of self
government, and still more elevated in his char
acter. will also assume, what | know none
will venture in reason to deny, that hiS Dirinty
of man can be enlarged, and that Man becomes
more Godike than he is
1t is the business of the Democratic porty to
progress in the work of increasing this principle
of Divinity, or Democracy, and thereby elevate
and make man more perfect. hold that the
Democratic party proper, OF the whole world
and especially of the United States, has under
taken the political redemption Of man, and soon
er or later the great work will be accomplished.
In the political world, it corresponds to that of
Christianity in the moral. They are going along,
not in divergents, nor in parallels, but in con-
verging lines-the one purifying and elevating
man religiously, the other politically. Democ-
racy progressive, corresponds also to the Church
Militant; both fighting against error-one in
the moral, the other in the political field. AT
what period of time they will have finished the
work of progress and elevation; is not now for
me to determine but when finished, these two
lines will have Appropriated to each other
man being perfected, both in religious and in
political point of view. At this point it is that
the Church Militant will give way and cease to
exist, and the Church Triumphant begin; at the
same point Democracy progressive will give way
and cease to exist, and Theocracy begin"
The GRAVE OF SILAs WRIGHT.--A cores
pendent, who lately visited the grave Of Silas
Wright, favors the Savannah Georgian with the
following description oft:
at will be remembered that the remains of
Sas Wright repose, not beneath his monument