The true Democrat., 1855-10-02
Da1tlane7le, Sept. 2Oth, 1855.
'' The Star in the East''-Iaesponse to Vic

The Maine election is the first response from a northern State to the democratic victories of the south.
 At the moment when her national sentiment seemed to be almost eXtngulshed and when abolitionism gloated at the prospect of securing her ald Tn Its most atroclous trcasonS, the pOpu- lar heart of Maine spoke trumpet tongued through the ballot boxes, and the wild fusion of tanaticiSm retired, with its colums crushed and its spirits broken.
 This most seasonable demOnstration--the be- ginning, as we solemnly believe, of an irresis- table reaction in the free States against all the projects Ot the adversares of the constitution teaches some valuable lessons. Frst, and above all, It shows that a steady adherence to the doctrines of the constitution Is sure of be- Ing vlndlcated by the popular decree. ltshows that coalitions between the revolutionary ee- ments ot tanatlclsm cannot be maintained. It recalls citizens who have been deuded into the lodges of know nottingham back to duty. It clears the pathway to future contests, by leav- Ing III the field the only two parties that now exist Tn this country-the democratic party, With the constitution for its shield and the abo- llton or sectional party, pledged to the over- throw of that constitution.
 This makes a clear and definite issue There IS now no mistaklng the parties that stand ar rayed against each other, nor the objects to which they are respectively committed. Ma ny circumstances conspire to make this state of things clear and unequivocal. The democratic party is soemnly committed to the grave re- sponsibllity of protecting the rights of the States and the guarantees of the federal con- pact.
 We know that there are some who even now remain in the democratic organization who at- tempt to evade the full endorsement of the principles of the party, by declarations in favor of other issues, and by laudations of certain administrative measures to the exclusion of others. But the time has come when politi- clans of this class must either openly reject or openly advocate these principles. No middle ground can be occupied by any man claiming to be democrat.
 Declarations in State conventions, or else where, evasiye in their character, and designed to soothe the sensibility of men who, although in the democratic organization, are freesoilers at heart, are neither suited to the times, nor wor- thy of a fearless, powerful. and honest party It IS the duty of the only national party-the great democratic host throughout this broad Union-not only to utter strictly national sen- tments, but to maintain them everywhere bold ly and with vigor. This course, which we are glad to see is so universally resolved upon, will drive out from the democratic organization the fanatcal, selfish, hypocritical, time-serving tide walters, who are iuconyeuientlv active when the sea is smooth and the skies are bright, but who, on all occasions of real trial, hang like a dead weight upon the skirts of party they are unwilling mantully to defend, and vet are not quite ready to leave. Let them depart in peacc If need be, let them have notice to quit! Their places will be filled with better men-men ready to contend for the right in storm as well as in sunshine. It is the simple truth, verified by experience everywhere, that while the opponents of democracy can do mo- thing without 'snas, the democratic party can do nothing with them, or their abetters, but to cast them out by action just, direct, sgni- ficant
 We must look not only the present, but the future, in the face. Rather than see our creed pared down, or shorn of its fair proportions, so as to be accommodated to this local interest, or made agreeable to that sectional idea, we should welcome wide and lasting defeat. Rather than act with men who shrink before the war-crv of abOlltonism, or who hesitate to assault the sa wage prescriptions of religious intolerance, and to denounce those who seek to punder the pub lc treasury, We would hall minority as the high est honor, attained, as 1t would be, in company with men honestly united upon great and en- during principles.
 Let the democracy, then, gird their loins for the coming contest. Let them fling back into the teeth of faction the language of resolution and of defiance, Vainly will abolition howl against the rights of the States-vainly will know nottingham hurl its missiles at the adopt ed citizen-vainly will fusion seek to rally a free people against the only written constitu. ton that recognises all the rights of mani the democracy of the Union is true to itself tc its doctrines and to the expectations of the peo ple Those who are not for us in this struggle are against Us. Those who seek to evade the issue by declarations in favor of doctrines which are entirely subordinate, or by professions of at tachments to men, or in order to achieve local success, or for any reason whatever will be ob- jects of distrust, if not contempt, to all sides, and of confidence to Wash Union.