Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-13
ParlieS.-Tkc.r Relative POsii,o,.s,


Parlies.-Tkc.r Relative POsiiwas,
The remarks Of the editor Of the Res
isler, in his Issue Of Sept. lSi, upon
"poli,ical elevation" so far as thei" ii.
rec, application 10 the Demo C par.
;y Is concerned. demand from Us no.
'ic", and agreeable 10 promise we pro.
ceed to consider that portion Of his ar.
tjclc.
III speaking of TIE policy Of choosing
caniin'cs for office on the principle Of
availability, instead Of qualifications,
be says: with the Democratic party
This policy may win Whatever the
leaders Of thar party do is hailed as -a.
cred by the rank AMI file, declared all
ri ht and vigorously supported by the IA.
M;ahing mGSs, wio kWew 40 rte oj"I
oction int The soy.So qf these fhcy arc
d"pcd 10 folom.'
- S'''' uIHctI"'1 IL p'c?iNieh'
where all the people assemble to make
laws for themselves. Our governments:
n representative democracy differs from
that in so far that it delegates the pow.
er, for purposes Of convenience, to a
limited number, whose duty it is to act
in str CT accordance with the ascertancd
wishes Of those deleealing them that
power, for the time being. All WHO are
at all conversant with the general hislo.
ry Of our government, know that r.om
lis first organization, there have been
rival parties, Sand tha, the most impor
tant issues between these two parties
have tended on the one hand to con.
soilation OF government, aud the con.
rcntration of its powers in the hands of
the few,-and on the other nan |, to he
aboiishment or special privileges, and
the extension of individual rights and
immunties. Among these was the ques,
ton whether the whole mass Of the peo.
pie should have a voice in choosing
their Representatives, TO whom were del.
e..ated The legislative, iuiicial, and ex.
ecutivc powers Of government, This is.
sue has from time TO time eiicitcd son c
Of the most interesting and Instructive
debates upon the rights and powers Of
the individull, and Of the mass-a
complication osindivijnols---on record.
1t is hardly necessary to say that in this
struggle democracy was for itself, that
the peolle lobofcj for the extension O!
their rights and privileges, as noman
natur", and commun sen>t would teach
US liat il could not bo otherwisc.-
Again, ,ha, the people mus, tr' Nnh,
was equally certain, because ..eir
claims were founded upon the eternal
principles Of truth and they looked ia
the natural equality Of man for theit
realization.
In those issues we see the same spr,
it that our neighhor manfcsts in the ex
tract quoted. We may pursue tn,
subject. and trace the analogy.
1t WIS cortene on the che hand tlat e.,
'mass' '"tle rabble"---tllc ''lawleSs IL H.
n, they were termed wcfe 'i.n1saut'' an.
.irL iL.,. /. ,,,-,.,1,...
by designing d,man5aues through the nc;e
nent OF dCngaycd appeliteg aud passons--tha
the compulSiOn 10 labor Tor tho neccssarics 0
life did not .,gc .hcm tiinc 20 study the science
OF government, and cons 'quentiy HE lbcri,c
If the nation vere innate in tl. lan,ia ot tht
'urthinh;ng many, aud thcir rovcInmc Mt an,
guardianship sbonld b. entrusted 70 the "weat
thy, and better hrrn.'
twas coniendcd, ant its,ly too, IN heba'
oi tie people that lie consolidation Of powe
very gfcat injustice aad Inlay :, th'
many as those having power would place th'
burden CT so,e'nment cpon the shoulders 0
TIE people, aud extend special privilege 70 tl!t
few. That the possession ofproperty was no
nor con- he test Of capacity, as some OF .h
n,cst stupid minds upon other subject;, has
shown a wOndeIn. facility for The acquisition
Of wealth. That The requirement Of prJperi!
cJeased thirst for more, the same that the
exercise of power engend.red desire for il
retention and expansion, and by to- lpng con
tnuance frequently worked corruption in the
hear OF its posscssor. That the science Of true
government was simple and easy 10 be under
stood, and tha; the mass ofibc people frcln the
influences That corrupt TIE human Heart were
plore honest, and from their disinterestelncss
in the special issues, and tier common in.er-
est III The public welfare, they were more COM
petent to judge Of tbe general necessities; q
theory that ali practice mas shown to be coz
rect.