The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-16
THE DUTY AND THE DESTINY OF THE DEMO
pARTY-Nn

Union Of tomorrow
THE DUTY AND THE DESTINY OF THE DEMO
CRATIC PARTY-No 2.
The advantage of the democratic party in the present cr
sis of political affairs is to be found in this that that party
is mmoyaby fixed upon the unchangng rock OF principle
In the midst of the evervarying of the daywhen
the crude theories of anacsm and of intolerance ena
bled substance and shape-and when the public
mind is bese with every imaginable scheme and bewider-
ed by every dazzling ideait is impossible to overesti
the grateful and healthy influences of the democratic
creed standing does upon those philosophical truths
which necessary the solid interests and consttu-
oua rights of all sections of the country The progress of
liberal principles be aided by the ildgested sug
gestions of inexperienced and selfish demagogues Men
change but principles live forever and ACT whether
oflegislaon craftsmanship will stand the test of
time and survive the investigating spirit of the age which
is rooted in the unalterabe and eternal justice of
things Stability vitality essential in such governments
oursnot indeed in the in which it is understood
by the of the Old World but in that meaning
OF the which decides every issue by the nexora
bic standard of the right and rejects those dangerous and
reasonable designs which, disguised in the robes Of expe
dency too often supersede the measures of conscientious
and experienced patriotism We fnd in proof of this,
that every question of finance revenue of territory and
democratic party upon principles which, tried by the
trial of years have at last overthown all objections and
are now acquiesced in by united, if not by grateful
public sentiment The remedies, if applied to the
new troubles of the times produce the wholesome
and enduring fruits and have already entered upon the
realization of this last triumph That this triumph should
not be allowed fail in the smallest particular however
isa principal duty the democratic party But it not hui
mill latin that Tho who dy
and Immediately interested in the of perma-
nent public pocy-when every material institution of
society every department of industry and trade every
political and moral right is concerned in the establish
ment of such poicy-that wild and wanton proscrp-
ton stimulated by the most ignorant prejudices and de-
Tended by the dangerous macontens should be per-
med its of fraud and force of bigotry and
boodshed in defiance of the sober judgment Of tho
try and often assisted by the guilty Indifference of the
people2
1t ia OF the times that few able and unscrupu-
lous often able carry off their partisans and
friends upon the NEST absurd and nsubstanta theories
Call it what we may, it is by means compliment to
our national intelligence to see great body of American
voters day advocating the rights of the Catholics
Gas in the Of the wings of 1881 almost to the
sion of all other persuasons and yet the next day Gas in
the of the great body Of the party in 1861
ing about and practically denying the Catholic his guar
aned privileges at the POLLS and his equality before the
laws in many other respects Alexander Hamilton speaks
in of his letters Of the ncalcuabe value of honest
and patriotic public and often impressed with
the force of his observation when how much nary
single dishonest public man nic not only upon the
national character, but upon the very people whom he
hypocriucy affects to serve There is TO safety in that
condition of things which permits shrewd manager 10
sway the public sentiment of his party as his hopes or h
teds may dictate Every right or guarantee must be un-
settled if this danger should become general enough to be
national Hence is that all parties who take position
upon the securities and covenants of the constitution are
those alone who fit be trusted by free people IF
the democratic party always ready to suffer defeat
By tenaciously holding to what was right (bowever
odous the might be the moment it would be-
object ofdeserved contempt because it must then
be corrupt and selfish conspiracy intent alone upon
power and ready to sacrifice character and consistency at
all times for miserable temporary advantage.
There is not State in this broad Union-there is not
Territoywhch is not affected by some local mischief
aided BY some revengefu politician and directed against the
democratic party Could all these elements be astingy
commonwealth by any principle of political chemistry ngre
dens repusve to each other could be held ogethcno
only the democracy but the federal compact ITSELF would
aoer 10 us base, mass OF undisngushable ruin 1t is
fortunate that such coalition is political impossbility
1t is than fortunateitis almost providentialthat
for every Of these mschef drastic and unang cure
may be found in the undng creed of the democratic par
IT, The Albany Argus in the Of recent article
on this subject expresses this whole idea in the following
brief and striking passage:
&c On the other hand, the democratic party ha. national
existence. 1t organized the theory Of embracing its
creed only such principles the conduct
tonal affairs and of leaving to local action those which
late to State matters only Its principles affections and
its exertons comprehend within their scope the
try and frown upon thing like dsunon Upon sla-
very question will seek stand where constitution
South stand together and labor in harmony sci not
Do slavery party Upon the prohibition question: far as
any principles affecting that enter its creed it will oppose
laws which violate constitutional safeguards rample upon
the werecognsed rights person and Of property while
viii by stand in the way of such wholesome legisa-
ton within the range of welestablshed principles as win
promote the Of morals and virtue miH not BE-
liquor party
So too, while resisting the attacks OF misguided men
upon the rights, political and social of their equals the
democracy cannot be called Catholic party or foreign
purity The duty Of the democracy and Of all parties in
all these could not be clearly defined if were
written the arches of tho sky. This duty the in
dssuctble instinct combines and concentrates the