The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-08-18
For the Portage Sentinel
Is the DemOcTat tic Party Dead!

Mr.. EDIroR:--By reading the fusion pa
pers of this State one would In reality sup.
pose that the whole Democratic party was
completely annihilated; but these declara
tons are nothing new, it is but a repetition
OF propheses made in former times. If the
party is dead and its principles become OBJ.
solete, then why the necessity of all this ef-
fort to unite all the factions which are OPP
posed to the cardinal principles ofthe party?
History tells us that in the election of Mr..
Jefferson in 1900, the Democratic party met
with the most determined opposition. Jeff
erson was denounced as an infdel, the relig-
ious prejudices of the people were appealed
to, and the whole clergy Of New England
united in opposing his election. but he sue
ceeded, and on the 4th of March 1901, he was
inaugerated President. The principles laid
down in his first address to the people of
the United States are worthy of consdera-
ton in these days of fusion. In speaking of
the different parties he says: "If there be
any among US who would wish to dissolve
this Union or change its republican form,
let them stand undisturbed as monuments of
the safety with which error of opinion may
be tolerated where reason is left free to combat
H.' Here we have laid down, the principles
which have been considered orthordox by
the Democratic party for half a century;
viz: freedom Of speech and the Press; free
bold and fearless discussion of the great and
fundamental principles upon which our gov
eminent rests, and upon which its prosperity
depends. How widely different are the
principles of a large number of leading poll
ticians ofthe present day who are plotting
in secret and binding the freemen of our
country in chain gangs, to be driven about
by few aspiring demagogues whose only
ambition is to gain political power no mat
ter by what means. In defining the principles
which would guide him in the administration
of the government, Mr.. Jefferson uses the
follow language: Equal Ond exact justice
to all men of whatever State orspersuasion
religious or political; peace, commerce, and
honest friendship with all nations, entang-
ling alliances with none; the support of
State Governments in all their rights, the
preservation of the general Government in
its whole constitutional vigor as the sheet
anchor of our peace at home, and our safety
abroad" 1t is claimed by our opponents
that we have forsaken the principles of JEFF
terson, and other Democratic worthless, and
that they are the embodiment OF ftrueJ Jeffersoni
an principles. By their fruits we are to judge
them and we may search the whole record
of Federalism, Know Nothingism, and every
other ism which has arrayed itself against
the Democratic party, and we find one con-
tinual series of Legislative oppression and
and tyranny whenever and wherever they
have had the power. They have loaded the
people with monopolies, and licensed swind-
ling shops that take the bread from the fami.
ly of the laborer and compell him to pay
tribute to wealth. Massachusetts can boast
Of Personal Liberty bill, enacted by'a lib
erty loving, fusion whig Legislature, to nul.
ify the acts Of Congress, while to day, she
hes incarcerated within her prison wells