Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-05-28
The Democratic rarty.

N va p
sent day, remarks the Pennsylvania,
the Democratic party stands pre-emi-
nent, Viewed as a party, whose organ
ization is almost perfect, or as a party
by whose counsels, either directly or in
directly, the country has advanced to
its present state of prosperity, certain it
is that it possesses within itself elements
of strength and recupcrative energies,
known to no other party or %organiza-
ton. In proof of this let us take an
impartial glance at its history. The
termination of the Revolutionary war
found an emancipated people exhausted
by the efforts of the struggle. One vic
tory was achieved, but there remained
another, compared with which, the for
mer was but preliminary. A portion
of the people, enthusiastic in their re-
gard for the great Washington, would
have made him their king. Another
portion, describing the forms of royal
ty, would have incorporated what is
perhaps as bad, a "%strong Republic"
and invested it with powers, centralized
in form and dictatorial in character
Another and by far the greater portion,
struggled successfully for a pure Repub-
lie, with powers restricted within such
limits, as that the greatest good might
be secured to the greatest number
Pre-eminent as a champion for the lat
ter form stood Jefferson. Though meet
ing the combined opposition Of the
friends Of the two former modes Of gov
eminent, and m~aligncd and stigmatiscd
from the pulpit and the press, he yet
had the satisfaction of seeing the tri-
umph Of liberal government, and the
high honor of filling the post of Chief
Magistrate Of the country, whose libcr-
ties he labored so assiduously in estab-
fishing. 1t is to the equitable p%rinci-
pies, as taught by Jefferson, in contra
distinction with the exclusive and anti
republican tenents of the elder Adams,
that the Democratic party owes its su-
periority to all parties and factions that
have ever arisen in opposition to it.
Whatever charge of abuse of power, or
betrayal of its trust; whatever objcc-
tons have, and may, from time to time,
been urged against it. on the score of
unfaithfulncss to its pledges, yet it has
never failed to receive the support of
the country when harmony prevailed in
it's own ranks. It is to the great men
of the Democratic party we are indebt-
ed for the enumeration Of all those axi-
oms Of self government which have ever
distinguished our political history, and
made our form Of government the most
glorious theme for the citations of the
orator, the realization of the dreams OF
the philosopher, and the most glowing
subject for the songs of the poet. From
its birth until the present time it has
had to encounter the most determined
and implacablc opposition. Frenzied
appeals have been made to the passions
and prejudices of the people, and lastly,
hostile sections have been arrayed
against it; and although for a time, its
harmony and discipline were destroyed,
yet it always fought its battles against
fearful odds without Interior aid, and
with its W ancient weapons. Witness
its heroic efforts, and signal success, I'M
der the leadership Of that indomitablc
military chieftain and s~agacious states
man, the immortal jackson. Neither
the power of the money monopoly, which
was installed in high places, nor the de-
ceptivc cry of disaster and ruin could
impede its irresistible onset. What
American citizens at the present day
can refrain to rejoice at that success,
overthrowing as it did the money pow
or, which if left alone would have re-
duced a free people to the mental service
of the ''priyiIedged classes" When
the heroic Republic of Texas asked add
mission into our family Of States, the
opposition to the Democratic party
would have sacrificed the highest aspi-
of an emancipated people, and
left a kindred nation the rapacity Of
European Legitimacy, merely because
its climate and productions made it
probable that slavery would be cstab-
lishcd there. What party Of faction
would wish to see annulied the act
by which Texas was annexed, and there
by the subsequent acquisition Of Cali
and New Mexico. And yet for
this enlightened policy the Democratic
party encountered the ficrccst opposi-
ton, and was branded as false to the
in collision with the South, for
purpose of charging the area OF
When the universal clamor
for Protection filed the country, true to
its ancient regard for the general good
rs paramount to sectional interests and
legislation for particular classes
the Democratic party adopted the