The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-24
Democracy.

In these days we hear much about
Democracy, and being of a somewhat
inquiring turn of mind, we naturally
felt great desire to know tho meaning
Of this word, SO common on the lips of
all. Such being the fact, we appealed
to our acknowledged authority on phi
lological questions = WEBSTER and
found as as q result that Democracy,
according to bis definition, means "Gov-
ernment by the people, form of govern
ment in which the supreme power is
lodged in the hands of the people col
lectively, or in which the people e1er-
else the power of Legislation" This
we found to be materially different from
the meaning which would attach to the
word as it is used in the present day.
The word now has so many chameleon
forms and hues, that it is exceedingly
difficult to tell what definition really
does comprehend the word.
Our present form Of government, is,
by US, with great self placsncy,
styled a democratic government why,
we are somewhat at loss to say-cer-
tainly not because the " supreme power"
is used by the people, because the fact
is a self-evident one, that the govern
msnt of this country is administered by
a few who nave faculty of duping the
masses into the belief that they hold.
heir appointment from the people,
thl ough the medium of the ballot box.
Never was there a greater mistake.
Let US instance few cases of the prac-
tical workings Of modern democracy.
Modern democracy places in the
hands Of a single individual, the power
to appoint many of the officials who
hold in their possession the convenience
of the people. Often in these appoint
ments, the united voice of the "dear
people"i is disregarded in favor Of some
porticular parasite of the appointing
power. In this matter, modern democ-
racy rejoices in absolutism. The pso-
pie petition the "powers that be-" for
appropriations for the purpose Of ma
king internal improvement - modern
democracy--in the shape of one man--
raises the veto hammer, and the appro-
priations demanded by the people, are
diverted from the sources where they
are wanted and needed, into some chan
mel which shall facilitate the reinstating
in power of the very officials who thus
abuse the democracy vested in them.
Modern democracy denies the right
of trial by jmy--that right which was
wrung from the monarchy even Of Eng
land, in the Magma CAarta, and right
sacredly guaranteed by the Constitution
of the United Statss--to the painting
fugitive who has escaped from bondage,
and from task master worse than those
whom the Israelites of old served.
Though there certainly is something
rather contr adictory in the idea of try
ing a man in any form, for attempting
to gain that " inalieuable right, which
the American Declaration of Indcpend-
ence asserts to be the right Of every
one. The voice of the free States
with some RECEPTIONS proclaim that
the slave who comes into free State
with bis master, or. with his masters
consent, is free; but modern dcmoera-
cy denies this doctrine, and clothes its
minions with +" little brief authority"
to imprison those who shall dare tell the
ignorant slave his rights, and proclaim
to him that be is in q land Of liberty.
Modern democracy allows the rights
of the pesceable settlers of a free terri
tory to be invaded and trampled On
with impuuity by the outlaw misi0ns
.f the ,lsy. power--6.s permitted there