Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-07-03
urnEvoCRATICPARTY-WshY IS IrSrlLL
IN THE ASCENDENT7

,;o, of ,e people. and the preiudices Of parties are
= fully aroused, it lie, perhaps, not unnatural that argu
ment should be overruled, and that error should not
be apparent to those who persist in il under the idle
belief that they are right. But after the battle is over
when the tumult and excitement are ended, and all
are allowed an opportunity Of bordering d'spass'on
ately, and deliberately deciding upon the merits Vi
principles, not men, it is then indeed that the ''o'o''
of Democracy becomes complete.
Thousands who, under the influence OF partizah
prejudice and pride, honestly but without deiloera-
tion engage in an ~unsparing warfare against the De-
mocr.,;c marty, after the close of the contest, reflect
and rayrst and become converts to it's teachings. 1t
10 % this fact. thst our increased and ever increasing
.t,snpth, as witnessed in each succeeding controver-
sy, ia attributable. Our ranks are recruited by the
voluntary enlistment Of patriots who rise above
party, from the convictions of their judgments in de-
fsnce ofpreconceived prejudices. And hencetoo, not
unfrequently arises the imputation Of joining the
s.,nger party from .el6sh motives W Tic
Ylctorifr,s army for the sake OF gain. That this is
true to a considerable extent, We do not doubt.
Bnt. while there are some who are actuated alto
f x,su1' ,osi,iou vons'derat lSsts III 81 Others, whose pre-
;udves have at last yielded to their better judg.
uent, and who have the maniiness 10 obey these i'm
pulses of patriotism, by renouncing error, and march
ing up boldly to the standard Of political truth. Not
q few Of The most eminent and efficient leaders of
the Democracy were once srrsyed in the ranks of
the opposition, affording an opposite illustration of
the aphorism, that "error ceases to be dangerous
when reason 10 left free to combat it,"
Until within a few years, a~ccessions to the Demo.
cratic ranks were not known by such immense num-
bers as have been more recently enrolled together, in
that irresistible army of conservative patriots which
is now almost without opposition in the South, and
still holds it's ground against the combined enemy in
the North.
Ten years ago, the Southern Democracy received
reinforcements by squads and companies. But Of
late they have come over in battalions. Then the
principles of the Wing party were still plausible;
now they have been proved totally inapplicable to
the ends of our government, and have been aban-
doned as the errors of many able, patriotic, and well
meaning, but misguided men.
The Wing party was no phantasm, no bubble to
burst upon the pillows, and be swept away forever
on the tide Of time, the moment it came In contact
with the trident of Democracy. Unlike know-No.
thingism, it had substance as well as sound. Its
basis was upon political principles; is organization
was national, and its warfare was conducted in a man.
ner worthy a powerful party in a republican country.
But experiment and experience have proved its in
efficiency. And it passed OF the stage defeated and
renounced, but with a page in history illustrated with
gsllantry and good sense, and embellished by the
names Of leaders which the American people, ire
spective Of party, will always cherish with respect
and pride. acknowledgement, the bastard claimant of
succession to the Wing party, has been consigned into
oblivion, and for the sake Of the great theory of self
government, the record of its existence should be a
blank page; there should be no epitaph en- its tomb, to
tell either of its follies or its fate.
After all the changes, the shocks of sections, the
revolutions in politics, attacks on oil sides and under
all circumstances, the Democratic party still stands
sovereign of the asceudent." Is this owing to
chance or management, or for,uitols advantages, or
is it the result of a firm foundation upon the true and
proper principles Of our Government? No more
opportune occasion than that now offered in the pre-.
sent condition of politics, can ever occur for a fair,
dispassionate and impartial answer to these sngges-
tive interogatories, which must arise in the mind
oulres no vsry '1 mihu ihrSatn 81 ys rs12b' but s;."ri, pain,
practical and unprecedented review of events, az they
have progressed from one stage TO another OF the po-
Iitical condition of the country. There has never
been a period in the history OF our government
when the principles Of the Democratic party have
not been pre.eminently national-suited not only to
all sections, as great Fundamental doctrines, but un'
exceptionally adapted to the immediate exigencles OF
the day, whether pertaining to foreign or domestic
matters. And as other parties have been tried and
found wanting, the Democracy have risen in inhu-
ence and increased in strength. The old Wing party
bad broken down, after an obstinate struggle against
our principles, and no new party, unless We may
except the Abolitionists, has ever been capable of
making even hopeful resistance. The anti.slavery
party is now acknowledged to be the only formidable
enemy of Democracy-aud the fact that it Is go ia
evidence irrefragsble, that when the Constitution and
the Union are openly assailed, the nation seeks shelter
in the policy and principles of the Democratic party.
The growth of our country, in wealth and strength,
in territory and influence, under the auspices of De
mocracy, proves conclusively that those principles
which are now recognized rs in the ascendent, have
their origin in the essential dement's IF oar GoceM
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