St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-03-04
A. D. =. Hr1pRErH I D. D. W. CARVER, EDITORS.
St. Charles City, Iowa, March A, 1853.
Ancient vs.. Modern Democracy.

81. CnarleS lily, iowa, Malch 4, 1000.
Ancient vs.. Modern Democracy.
The political history Of this country,
for the last quarter Of century,
proves beyond doubt that the princi-
pies of modern Democracy" are but
hollow and fraudulent prctenccs. This
may be considered a strong statement,
but we will see if the facts do not
prove it.
The Democratic party came into
power, as their great chicftain,"
jackson, told us in his inaugural ad-
dress, with 1.-THE task of reform in
scribed on their executive duties in
characters too legible to be over
looked" And yet reform" with
them has too often been but an empty
sound. Abuse has followed abuse,
corruption has followed corruption,
usurpation has followed usurpation,
till, in the language of one of their
great leaders, "thc whole power of
the Government has been perverted
with view to corrupting and con-
trolling the country"
When Jackson was elected to the
Presidency, the Democratic party was
sworn to retreEch the expenditures of
the Government; and yet they in
creased them from thirteen millions of
dollars, under John Quincy Adams, to
forty millions, under Van Buren,, and
ninety millions under Franklin Pierce.
They came "to correct abuses which
had brought the patronage of the
Government into conflict with the free
dom Of elections )" and yet almost
every Office holder in the land, from
cabinet ministers down to the meanest
retainer, has become an electioneerer
proving what Mr.. Buchanan said in
1926, that they were "thc enlisted
soldiers Of the administration" Fur
Their than this, the very Executive, in
no less parsonage than this same
Mr.. Buchanan, has gone so far, only
a month or two since, as to interfere
with a municipal election in one Of
our principal cities, and district at.
torney McKcon is removed for opin-
ions sake
The Democratic party came to
countcract those causes which had
disturbed the rightful source of APP
pointment;" and yet the work of pro.
scription has been vigorously carried
on in the removal of faithful officers,
and rewards arc meted out for the
greatest subserviency to party re-
quirements. They came to correct that
policy which "had placed or continued
power in unfaithful or incompetent
!. hands )" and yet men VIGOROUSLY in
, famous, like the robbers and murder
ers in Kansas, are rewarded will
, place and power, and bankrupt
gamblers and spectators are cntrust
ed with the custody Of the public reve
nue.. Notorious defaulters are re
| taincd in Office as long as they choose
and are then permitted to resign ant
appoint their SUCCESSORS, who will
perfect the work begun by thei
:" illustrious predecessors"
Still we are told this is all Democra
cy--pure Jcflersonian Democracy
1t is false. To say it, is to utter 6
base SANDER, foul libel OH the repu
r tation of that great man. Eevry act
Of Jcfferson's life gives the lie to sucl
an assertion. No man received Office
from him unless he was honest, capa
BILE, and faithful to the constitution
If false to these, he was sure to be
! removed. How is it now with the
, "breech clout" Democracy of Mime
a sofa, the retention in the U. 5. Senate
. Of the bogus Indiana Senator's, Fitch
. and Bright to say nothing of the
I villainous Judges, Land Officers, &c
in Kansas?
Let us look little further. The
Democrats Of former days were fol
curtailing executive power and limit
, ing executive patronage. The Demo
Gratis Of modern growth support the
veto power, advocate the extension Of
patronage, and even go SO far as to
claim that 1.-THE Executive is compo
nent part of the Legislature" And
yet their opponents, who contended
for the same measures as the Demo
Gratis of the Jefferson and Madison
, school, are denounced, either as Fed
eralists or Disunionist, as will bes,
suit the purposes of their accusers. A
strange state Of things, truly!
But, says our modern Democrat, the
true test of Democracy was support OF
Madison and the war Of 1912. Very
well. Where was James Buchanan
when lie declared that the Democratic
party trashy plunged us into war"
and then made peace that was dis
graceful in its terms? If that is the
test what is to be done with Roger b.
fancy, present Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court; with such men as
Charles Jared Ingersoll, who boldly