Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1858-06-23
ssThe Democratic idea. -

!
1t also goes on to argue that the Dem
ocratic idea is the natural and sponta-
neous idea Of the people Of the country
generally. at is that which has car
rled the Union through the various tri-
ais in the past, it is the life of the con-
stltution; 1t is more than individuals.
the administration Of the law: and it is
that which insures rs against the still
threatning forces Of fanaticism."
LET us them" it concludes, 'sguard
and strengthen the Democratic idea:
let Us cherish and commend the Dem
ocratlc sentiment, as the last hope of a
free people. As citizens we are sol
EMMY required to do this-and as Dem
ocrats We have this additional incen-
tive: SO long as the Democratic idea
shall suggest the policy and direct the
course OF the country, the Democratic
party will be in the ascendant.n
This is all very well, and entirely
unobjectionable, and we suggest to the
Neacs that it furnishes a solution Of the
causes that have brought the so-caled
Democratic party Of the nation to its
present tactious condition Of helpless
minority. If there is indubitable proof
that the prevailing sentiment of Wiscon-
sin is democratic, is not the same proof
equally conclusive that the so-called
democratic party, being in a hopeless
minority in the State, is not dcm0crat-
&c. Ii not will the Nescs show us by
what process or for what reason the
ascendant democratic idea in the State
fails to carry the democratic party into
power. The truth is, this so-called
democratic party owes its present con-
dltlon to the fact that it has proved
false to the democratic idea. It has
failed to cherish and carry out the dem
ocratic sentiment which prevails with
the people, and the people have aband-
oned It's leaders to shift for themselves,
and have organized themselves into a
democratic party Of their own. The
real democratic party of the people is
IN the ascendancy and in power in the
state, while the false democracy, com
posed Of old party leaders, selfish poll
uclans, and the conservative and fed
eral clements of The land is naturally
and inevitably, where it ever Will be,
except at rare intervals, in a hopeless
minority.
And what is true Of this State is
equally true Of the country at large
The decay and imbocility of the demo-
cratic party is too marked to admit of
question. Age, driveling on the very
edge Of the grave, and clinging with
conservative instinct to the past, is
not more in contrast with vigorous
and progressive youth, than is the pres
ent democracy with the democracy of
earlier times.
The New York Herald, at present a
warm defender of Buchanan, draws
the following outline sketches Of the
party and its condition:
"The last Presidential election, from
the divisions of the popular vote, es-
tabllshed the conviction in the public
mind that not only majority, but an
overwhelming majority ofthe people of
the United States are opposed to the
democratic party"
| The effort Of Buchanan and his Cab
| met to harmonic the discordant ele-
ments Of the democracy and render the,
party once more powerful, the Herald
says have failed, and H'while on every
important measure or movement Of the
administration, with scarcely an excep-
ton, the democratic majority in the
Senate and in the House has been re-
duced to a disorganized and impotent
! gang OF fillibustering actionists, the ap-
pareptly irreconciIable elements Of tie
opposition have been united and har-
monlzed to an extent which has aston
lshed even themselves"
Provided, the H9ruM says, the op-
position can concentrate their forces in
1860, nothing can prevent their success,
and adds
"For this gloomy state of things in
reference to the democracy, we repeat
that the President and his Cabinet are
in no way responsible. It is a condi-
ton Of things which is due, first to the
tactloUs, ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS
leaders and would-be leaders Of the
democratic party in both houses Of
Congress-; and secondly, to the ire
mendous pressure Of the late re-
vulsion upon the country and the gov
ernment."
For this gloomy state Of things, we
reply, the democratic party is indebted
to the fact, that it has abandoned the
democratic idea, and as conse quence
has been abandoned by the people,
It is not members Of Congress, partic-
ularly, nor ambitious demagogues, nor
the President and his Cabinent who
are responsible. The mistake is in the
whole policy of the party. When the
measures sought to be established by
Jackson were finally settled on a dem
ocratic basis, and the democratic par
ty was called by the inevitable laws of
progress to choose its position on the
new questions demanding practical So
luton by government, it unfortunately
listened to the promptings Of a tempo
rary interest, timidly abandoned prin-
ciples to propitiate a success which
the South was assumed to hold in it's
hands, threw Martin Van Buren, over
board for James Z. Polk, and COM
menced It's downward career to des-