The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-12-14
DEMOCRACY

The New York Express is discussing the
true meaning Of the irord at the head of this
article, and says
There has never been word in the Eng.
lish language more perverted from its true
meaning than the word Democracy. 1t has
been made use of .Or the last thirty years TO
designate party which has no claim TO it
Let us first examine the etymolOgy of the
word, and see if this statement cannot be
verified. Ii is derived from two Greek words
"Demos," people, and "Kratos," power-and
signifies "the power, or government by the
"people." OF course, then, democratic"
government is one where the people rule
themselves. Now in this broad sense We are
all democrats" and it is absurd to style any
particular party the democratic" because all
parties in the United States recognize this as
their primary principle. But, above all, it is
absurd thus TO denomlnate the so-called "De-
mocratic party" Who are THE People of
any country! Common sense at once answers,
THE NATIVES OF THAT COUNTRY Would it
not be absurd, were it asked "What are the
people of Ireland ealled?" to reply, "Ameri-
cans" or English" If then, The People of
Ireland are the natives Of its soil, so we say
that THE People of America are the natives
of the country; they are Americans, and not
French, etc. Now apply this test 10 the So
called "Democratic" party. Will any sane
man pretend that the self-styled "Democrat-
ic party" is party composed of THE people
of the United States! Is il not notorious
that that party has maintained itself by the
fact that it is largely composed of foreigners!
The People. then, Of the United States do
not rule themselves, but are controlled by
the natives of other countries, who have
come TO this country to reside. We repeat,
that it Is gross misnomer TO call the party
of office holders, many of whom the Priests
direct, the Democratic party. The truth is, it
is party of politicians who care chiefly for
the spells of Office, having held and hunted
office so long they do not care to be ousted
and will support any party which seems to
them to promise the best pay. Having had
control of the country, through the mid of
foreign prelates and votes, for the major part
of the last thirty years, they have deemed
Observation-Disclosures, and have resisted all
attempts at reform. But now they begin to
quake at tho prospects of the campaign of
1886. We should net wonder now that they
find that political Priests are poor sticks to
to lean on, that they will leave them 10 the
lurch, and for The sake Of retaining office ,oiH
become loud mOuthed Americans. Can party
of men, political trieksters, holding office
through foreign votes, be in any sense a
Democratic partyl We maintain they cam
not.
True Democracy is, when n people of
country, the natives of its SOIL rule them
selves, either directly or through their repre-
sentatifes. But, with some noble exceptions,
the so called Democratic office holders repre-
sent chiefly the foreign vote, for which they
bargained, and which elected them to their
places. But the American people intend,
henceforth, to be represented by men who
will not truckle to Foreign Prclates or con-
suit them in any political matters.