Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-24
"HIs ROYAL HIGHNEss PRINCE POS.
TERITY.n H.L II.


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"HIs ROYAL HIGHNEss PRINCE Pos
TERITY."
Although q free people, and although hating
monarchies and aristocracies, there is one
Prince that we recognize. 1t is he to whom
Dean Swift dedicated his book" His Royal
Highness Prince Posterity." To posterity, as
individuals and as nation, we owe some
thing. We have benefited by the experience
of our predecessors We have profted by their
labors, their discoveries, their learning, and by
their sufierings even. What they did for us.
we must do for those who come after us.
1t is needless to remind the people of this
country that their ancestors left them as leg
acy the Constitution Of the United States and
the institutions Of the several States. 1t is
needless to remind them that they bequeathed
to them great thoughts, invaluable ideas and
inspiring traditions. 1t is needless to remind
them Of the hardships, privations, sufFerings,
and sacrifices they endured to bequeath to pos
terity the rich charter of freedom, political
freedom, religious freedom, social freedom.
What shall we of the present generation do
for posterity? Wefear that many are altogether
insensible to, or reckless Of the debt that they
owe to posterity. They have so little appreci
alton of, and gratitude for the inheritance they
enjoy, that they are willing to blot out the
great charter BY which they derived it.
There are several parties in this country.
They all profess to make the Constitution the
basis of their organizations, except one--the
abolition party. That party rejects both the
Constitution and the Bible in an insane pursuit
ofits impracticable object. To reason with them
is TO waste breath. They would enslave the
whites to set free the blacks Bat there is
one, and one party only, in our opinion, that
is really based upon the Constitution-and that
is the Democratic party. In making this re-
mark, We do not mean to question the sincerity
and integrity of many who differ from us. We
mean only that they hold erroneous views and
are governed by deep rooted prejudices. A
demagogue in the Democratic party, mean and
miserable as is a demagogue, is not half so
dangerous to the peace of the country and the
safety Of our institutions, as an honest but mis-.
guided man, in any other party.
1t has been the peculiar province Of the De-
mocratic party to stand as an armed and un.
sleeping sentinel over the Constitution and
over the rights of the States-to maintain and
defend the inheritance bequeathed by our
fathers, and to oppose any and all parties,
whether honest or dishonest, that would clothe
the Federal Government with unauthorized
powers, and take from the States one jot or
little Of their rights. Their doctrines and prin-
ciples come down to us from honest times and
from honest men, and it is their duty to see
that these doctrines and these principles are
transmitted pure and unauthorized to pos.
ierity.
A struggle, a great, fearful struggle, is
now going on in this country, in which the De
mocracy will have to take an active part
Heresies prevail and isms abound. Combina-
tons are forming at the North, the South, the
East, and the West, that menace our institu.
tons with new perils. Doctrines, new doc
trines, that the Constitution never contem-
plated isms, new isms, the rank offspring of
these fruitful times, and fanaticisms that never
catered the minds Of the Founders of the Re.
public, have all leagued together to overthrow
the Democratic party. So faithful is that
party to the Constitution, that no party it OPP
poses can be a constitutional party, let it pro-
Tess what principles it may, or hold what doc.
irines il will.
All Of these dscordant elements despairing
of success, single and unaided, have fused,
united, and amalgamated, to break down the
Democracy Of America. The war they wage,
disguise it as they may, is but struggle for
the spoils; and, in order to possess themselves
of the spoils, they are willing to break down
however sacred, and sacrifice any
however time-honored Whilst this
great fusion no doubt comprehends many hon
est men, who have been accustomed to regard
Democracy as the great curse Of the country,
and who think that any means of defeating
Il are legitimate, yet we will hazard tho
serlion that there is not single demagogue Of
any party in the country who has not either
Joined them, or paid tender and assiduous ad-
dresses to them. The demagogucs, "that bane
Of Republics" are now all arrayed, either
openly or secretly, against the Democratic
party. The spoilsmen are against it. The
disappointed are against it. The timid are
against it. The isms are against it. The Alb
olitionists are against it. A confederated army,
with banners, is against it.
What shall it do2 1t must stand by its prin-
ciples and by the Constitution. 1t must be
mindful Of its debt to posterity. 1t must see
that no isms, no bereses, no false doctrines
shall, through its remissness, be sent down to
a great posterity. il should guard the Consti-
tuition and the memory of the Fathers Of the
Republic.