Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-02
THE ST .NIDtA RD.
RALETaH, sATURDAY. JULY 2, 1888
THE PARTY OF PRINCIPLE.

Il e u i
TIE Democratic party is emPhatlcaliy q party o.
prineibIe This is shown in its whole course, from
;ts establishment by Jefferson to the present hour
Now and then it has encountered reverses-Feder-
aI;smI under false professions, has gained the as
tendency only to 60 own under the weight of its
own blunders aud misdeeds; but principle has
been seen all the while as the guiding light on the
Democratic banner, and the masses of the people
have uniformly turned to this light for direction
for hope, and for encouragement. What Democ-
racy was in the days Of Jefferson, Jackson' ana
Polk, it is now is the same in its views OF Con
stitutionaI power-in its foundations. laid IN such
strong regard for the rights of man-ln Its deVo-
ton to the greatest good to the greatest number
in its opposition to monopolies, class legislation
and consolidation, and its fixed and firm reliance
on the good sense and sound Judgment OF the peo-
ME. Democracy never distrusts the people. 1t
looks to them as the sovereigns of the country :;
and its confidence in their capacity to manage their
own concerns in the best manner for themselves
and their posterity, is never either shaken or i'm
paired
But the Democratic party is not only party
of principle-it has triumphed at the ballot-box,
and it now controls the government because OF this
fact. All its doctrines, bottomed IN principle,
have been approved by twenty-seven out of thirty
one States of the Union and this, not as the re-
suit of passion, prejudice, or sudden impulse, but
after full discussion aud mature elaboration.
The Wing or Federal party, on the other hand,
has been driven step by step to the abandonment
of all its issues and doctrines principles it never
had-until it is left only with vague clamor
about the public lands; and this clamor, as we
have heretofore shown, is not only hollow and in
sincere, but springs from disposition on the part of
the leaders, who have always been more less sub
servient to Northern interests, to add to tariff
taxes for the benefit of classes and monopolists.
No party which, from whatever cause, abandons
principles, or a principle known to be right can
long command the popular respect or confidence.
This is demonstrated by the history Of the Wing
party. The fact stands out to be seen and I'M
lerstood by ALL That party, it gave up its
doctrines by one, lost public respect and went
down in public confidence; and now, the amour
cement of Wing issue Wing principle, is
a subject of amusement or of wonder. Like the
mummies exhumed from the ruins of Nineveh,
these issues will scarcely bear the unwrapping of
the cerements-they crumble and fade before the
touch.
The Democratic party can exist only as it COM
menced by rigid devotion to its principles
all its principles, without reference to the
promptings of human interest or ambition. With
us these views are by no means unusual or new.
They are such as we have been urging in this jour
nal for the last ten years and we intend to ad-
here to them more firmly, if possible, than ever.
In the language of Levi Woodbury., e zoe go aOhere
principles lead, and echen they to lead aOe
to folloaO.