Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-09-23
why 1 am a Democrat.

That is a strange question. The us
ual answer about political measures l
need not give you, but 1 will tell you
why. Democracy is The party Of pro-
gross and of the People. You know
that the opposition never originate any
thing. In regard to Territories, State,
or National measures, what has been.
with them, is the rule; with the Democ-
raey, it is what ought to be, the
measure. Democracy is not afraid to
check corporate power, to aim at such
policy as will make. wealth equal, as
near as the accident which happened to
mankind will permit. Democracy, too,
is American, for though it held in con
tempt the midnight Amoricanism, COM
monty called Know Nothingism, and
defeated it, yet Democracy is truly A
merican. It Separates from Old World
forms--from Aristocratic privilege-it
has helped to found new States, new
law systems, new Constitutions. 1t
takes the lead in progress, in living cd
ucation, in literature, and in political
science. Are judges to be made elect
i've, power to be restricted, Democracy
does it. Is a foreign power to be bat
tied against-our territory to be pre-
served, our National honor to be vim
Dictated, new territory to be acquired, it
is from O Democratic Administration
this is looked to be accomplished; and
it is. From the acquisition of Lousia-
ma to the present day, Democracy has
dared every thing acquisition, diploma
cy, war, to maintain the nations honor.
Democracy, too, ~acccomplishes what it
undertakes. Docs it war upon a Nation
al Bank, as inimical to public Rights
away goes the Banks, and bursts and
blows to atoms, to show that Democracy
is right. Does it propose a better means
to preserve the Public Money-the In
dependent Treasury, it is enacted; and
the test of war; panic and revulsion, vim
dictate democratic sagacity. The oppo-
sitiou to the Democracy never mansS-
ed to pass a great measure into q law
that will stay OF the Statute Book
The National Laws are the work of
democrats. Do the democracy inaugu-
rate a new policy in tie rritories; they
carry it out and freedom is the result
There is a noble daring about democrats
too; they are not always trying to be
popular, they would rather be right:
and in the long run they prove to be-
They have ball deg tenacity. Trifes
don't discourage them or break their
organization. They are the same fifty
years back, today. and will be-in the
matter of principle, fifty years hence
They progress, it is true, but it is in
the development Of ideas and measures
carrying out those great principles
which lie at the foundation OF free gov
erument. They go for principles and
men-not men without the principles.
When you are a member Of the Demo
ic party, you are not sure, it is true,
but that occasionally in a man or a
AACdSulS, IhSy may NC SOHuCh nav EIlStI-
ken, but you are sure, of pledging al
legiance TO great principles, are sure Of
effort for great truths and you need not
fear that tomorrow or next day, you'll
have a new name, new leaders and new
principles and have to ask as a great OPP
position man once did, "Where am I to
go?' The path of the Democracy is
straight. steadily traversed, without
turning to the right or left, of Northern
Sectional, or Southern Disunion pripci-
pie. 1t is upward and onward with a
march as steady and keeping step and
time with the onward march of our
couutry's glory, prosperity and great
ness. I could not be a true Patriot IN
less I were a Democrat. Do nut won
der, then. that, with heart soul and in
t~ellect, I'm a Democrat, and shall be SO
while life lasts with me. 1 could be
nothing elsc.-LiaiG Democrat.