Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-07-13
Open Enemies and false Friends.

The party out of power and office, as the
whig party generally is, has one advantage
over the party in power. The party having
control of the State or national administration,
and the majority in Congress or the Legislature
must do the positive acts. They must enact
laws and attend to their execution. They must
manage the public works, disburse the public
monnies, and carry on the entire machinery of
the government All laws enacted, and all
acts done by the party in power, whether right
or wrong, are exposed to the censurc ofthe op-
position The minority party originate no
measures, assumes no responsibility, and, in
fact has little to do but to oppose the ruling
party.
Such is the position of the two great parties
of the country now The democrats have con-
troll of the national, and of the most of the
State administrations of the whole country
and have majorities in most of the legislatures
also All positive Legislation. all laws de-
manded by the public interests and necessities,
they must originate and enact. They must
see that the laws are faithfully executed dis
burse the public moneys, and manage the whole
machinery of the national and State govern
ments Such is the task now committed to
the democracy by the people. Nearly all the
time, for the last half century, the people have
chosen to entrust their public interests to the
democrats and the unexampled prosperity,
the rapid expansion and growth of the coun-
try in wealth and power, and all the elements
of national greatness, during all that time, af
ford sufficient evidence that the democrats
have not betrayed or abused their trust. De-
mocracy is now what it ever was, pursuing
the same liberal and progressive policy, and
re-afirming and defending its time-honored
and enduring principles.
While such is the grave and responsible
task of the Democracy now, the Whig party,
and all other factions, whom the people have
so repeatedly and emphatically refused to
trust, have nothing TO do but to SANDER the
Democrats, oppose all their measures, and to
deceive and mislead the people. Such is the
task of the Wings, Abolitionists and Know
Nothings now and in it they, of course, are
Joined by the disappointed office-seekers of
the Democratic party, who imagine the coun-
try is ruined because their merits and claims
are overlooked; and who would ruin the par
ty to which they profess attachment, because
it has not Offices enough in its gift to reward
them for their real or imaginary services
Of all the enemies of Democracy these are the
worst. The ISLANDERS of Whiggery fall harm
less 1t is their trade The rawlings of Abo-
litionism the people heed not. Their vitality
and existence is in Imagination. They can
do the great party of the people no harm. But
the treachery of pretended friends, whose pri-
vate grefs are too strong for their principles,
give courage to our enemies, and furnish
them with weapons for their incessant warfare.
Our party has nothing to fear from the as
saults of open enemies, however violent, ma
lignant persevering and lying they may be.
But the false and treacherous enemies within
our own camp may do the great cause of De-
mocracy some harm. But it will be only for
short time. Our principles must prevail,
and our cause triumph. 1t is the cause of the
people, and of freedom and self-government,
and must ever prevail in this country.
PifSbuygh Post.