Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-24

VII NeVner House, yeSteruay, transacted any
business of especial public Importance, and both
adjourned over until Tuesday next.
p6y-The first great mission of the democratic
party of the United States, is to fix and fasten
upon the public mind of America true republi-
can IDEAS But that is not the only mission Of
the democracy; for the democracy must SO or.
ganize its forces and so express its opinions as
to give encouragement to republican progress
throughout the world.
The democratic association is not mere
propaganda association. 1t speaks for itself;
and its speaks for the American continent. But
if its speech should give encouragement to true
men and to true sentiments beyond the Allan
tic, then every honest democrat will feel JOY and
be rejoiced. For ourselves we can say, and
say with truth, that we have no disposition to
give countenance to crusading schemes but
at the same time we must say that we feel no
disposition to submit to the insolent and AFRO
CANT pretensions of European monarchies.
But it is not our present purpose to examine
the foreign policy of the democratic party, nor
to contrast it with the foreign policy Of the wing
party. Our object and intention is to give our
testimony to the noble ends and means, and
measures of the democracy, as applied to our
domestic concerns. In doing so, we feel con-
strained to say, in the outset that we stand, and
mean to stand to the last gasp. by the Balti-
more platform-that we stand, and mean to
stand to the last gasp, to the great principles
announced in that platform. Wicked men, and
selfish men, and ambitious men, may strive to
drive us from that ground, but they shall not
succeed. No matter who may change-no mat
ter who may desert--no matter who may prove
treacherous and false, we will be true and firm
to the principles and usages of the democratic
party; and neither threats, nor fattery nor
promises, shall move us from our position.
1t may be said that we do not understand and
cannot appreciate the real principles of democ-
racy. All that may be true, in the estimation
of the servile crew who profess democracy be-.
cause democracy is strong.
We understand by democracy equal rights
to all. We understand that the democratic
party looks to justice alone as guide to ac-
ton. We hold that Congress has no power to
create corporations power to give vitality
to corporate bodies mo power to grant special
privileges-no power to grant special immuni-
ties by class legislation. Beyond all this, we
hold that the democratic party, while true to
itself, and while true to its high mission, will
ever guard most sedulously its creed from i'm
sot o1o%s, nj s%o s1ofip m
from impure and leprous associations. In the
olden time the waters of Jordan could purify,
and the pool Of Sloan cleanse. But Jordan
is now muddy stream. The pool of Sloan
is broken up, and its waters scattered and
wasted so that wounds and bruises and putri-
flying sores can no longer be made clean in an
instant Yet if there be not powers and prin-
cipalities, there are those who presume to
speak in the name Of powers and principali-
ties who pretend to hold in their hands the
waters of Jordan-who pretend to keep the
pool Of Sloan, and to wash clean, in the twink
ling of an eye, the foul sores which contami-
nate John Van Buren, and the Buffalo traitors
For ourselves, we adhere to the Baltimore
platform, not because only that it was adopted
by the democratic party in convention assem-
bled, but because we approve every word and
every line, and every sentence, and every pa
ragraph in it. We are true democrats, and do
not mean to be driven from the democratic
organization by the thick phalanx of treasur
paid solutions, which has been making, and
which is now waging weak and cowardly
war against us. We oppose a bank, We op
pose distribution of the proceeds of the sales
of the public lands; I'VE oppose general sys-
TEN Of internal improvements by the federal
governments we advocate purely revenue du-
ties we sustain free trade; we oppose a Pa
ciGc railroad scheme by the government; we
advocate an increase of the army; we sustain
an increase of the navy we do each and all
of these things with hearty good will; and
the man or the set Of men who may attempt
to place us in opposition, because we are not
humble and subservient shall meet the over
whelming indignation Of men who have no
personal motives to serve-have no meaner
motives to action than an honest desire to sub
serve and advance the public interests.
1t is impossible to set forth the democratic
creed in single article We have, therefore,
attempted only to specify its leading features.
The mean jealousy of disappointed ambition,
and the contemplate animosities Of rival prints
have forced us away, for q time, from the con-
sideration Of great questions; but now we have
senced the batteries which have been directed
against us; we have crushed them out; we
have vindicated ourselves. Now our hands are
free-for the first time leisure has been per-
mitted us to set forth the great democratic
principles of progress and reform which the
interests of the country demand. Hereafter,
looking upon personal attacks with unruffled
ao,a4o,,,,t chall male, 60. Il.