The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-04-18
THE TRUE SECRET OF DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS

THE TRUE SECRET OF DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS
The principles of the Democratic faith are so riah
and so just within themselves that they require no
cliqucs or cxtranctus influences to sustain end srp
port them. They are sclf-sisuining from their own
inherent beauty and loneliness. They favor nonc
but those who support them, and love them for their
own sake. Selfish and sinister advocates may for
while deceive and ride into power on Democratic
wings, but so sure MS their covering becomes once
exposed, their elevation is doomed to disappoint-
mcnt. Honesty. capacity, and faithfulncss to the
Constitution, and to the well tried and approved
land marks of the party, are the true tests of Demo
cratic fitness for public station Neither tricks CON-
bnatons or intrigucs are necessary to the success
Of the Democratic party. II will triumph, not only
without such aids, but in opposition to every such
measure, when brought against it. The great and
eternal principles of justice and equality upon which
the party is founded and the fairness and MONDAY
openncsss and candor with which they are supported
are the guarantees that they will never fail. They
need the support only of truth and reason to con-
vert the whole world. Secrecy and wreworking be-
long to other parties and other principles They be-
long not to the Democratic creed, and are exotic
whenever found therein.
Our opponents may charge us with being sclf.styl-
ed Democrats, or whatever else they please they
may accuse us of changing our principles and fol-
lowing guides and new teachers but these things
move us not The standard of our faith is Just the
same 1t was in the days of the sage of Monticello
and the Hero of the Hermitage. We can point to
the political creed, the same Interpretation of
the Constitution, and the same pure principles of
right justice and equality, that animated these noble
li.,hic ~ NJ,
and candor affirm that the same principles and creed
animate and govern the Democracy at the present
day. From The rcmotcst North. to the EXTREMIST
South; from the Atlantic the East to the Pacific
on the West there is but one Interpretation to the
Constitution, but one set of principles, and but one
noble aim-thc prosperity and glory of our common
country and the happiness Of the people.
We speak of the Democratic party and not of its
individual members, as there are doubtless eycep-
tons among some of them to this general rule. II
would be strange indeed If there were not and it
is by these exceptions that our opponents always
judge the party and not by the action and principles
cnunciatcd, aud cXpoundcd by the party itself. 1T
is only by ascribng bad motives to every act and
by Misrepresentation of the truth, that the oppos-
ton to the Democratic party either in the States, or
in the Nation, has ever been able to keep MP any
thing like respectable appearance. This is render
cd the more imposing by the occasional dsappoint-
mcnt of some prominent Democrat, who goes over
to the enemy hoping to better his political prospects
Such one is sure to turn his batteries against the
party whose principles and confidence he has betray-
cd. What rejoicing in the opposition ranks whoa
ever anything Of this kind occurs? How often has
the Democratic party been pronounced dead and
hopclcssly broken mp when such occurrences take
place?
The most memorable instance of the kind in our
recollection, was that made by the Know Nothing
party in Convention assembled in Philadelphia when
clatcd by large recruits from the Democratic party,
and confident of success, they announced to the
world in their platform, that that party had risen
upon the ruins Of the old Wing and Democratic par
ties. These wise men of the Know Nothing party
like all others who had preceded them and Ike those
who may follow them in predicting the destruction
Of the Democratic party, was doomed to n humiat-
ing disappointment. They forgot that the Demo.
cratic party Is dependent for It's existence upon no
one man. or set of men, and is abundcntly able 10
withstand all snch assaults come from what quarter
hey may. It's enemies forget that ii is founded on
principles that are as ctc'nll and enduring rs the
immortal source from which they sprung The par.
y may die, and its organization be destroyed, but
he principles upon which it is founded, will live
brewer.