Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-11

States Bank in the time of Jackson, or the
Sub-treasury in the days of Mr.. Van Buren,,
or the Texas question under Mr.. Polk, or the
Kansas-N Nebraska bill under Mr.. Pierce. In
view of such a fierce dissension among the
teachers of the faith, what wonder that the
neophyte who hears the disciples shouting in
their bewilderment Great is Democracy ~
should deplore on his own account as on theirs
the absence of some Mahomet as prophet.
Even as we write our eye falls on the pro
ceedings of portion of the Pennsylvania
Democracy, assembled in the good old county
of Chester, and resolving as follows:
''Resotred, That the present tariff is made
quate to defray the expenses of Government.
and we are therefore in favor of its revision.
In making such revision we hold that the
duties should be so adjusted TO giDe ample
protection 10 all the industrial interests Of ooun-
try. n-r
In former days that would have been de-
nounced by the central organ as nothing
better than Federal Whiggery:''now il passes
unchallenged as very good Democracy-for
Pennsylvania, however ont of place it would
be in South Carolina or 10 the general plat
form OF the party. As our Philadelphia con-
temporary. the United States Gazette, truly
remarks in commenting on this late declara-
ton of the Chester Democracy, if it could be
adopted into the said general platform, and
reduced to practice by the harmonious Ma
ilOudl Va ih"SA
denounced Opposition would pro tanto lose
their identity. ard confess themselves fairly
beaten with their own weapons"
But perhaps il will be said that the Tariff
issue" is old and effete, insomuch that
differences of opinion may now be tolerated
on question removed from the strife Ofparty
into the calm region of political econ omy.
Perhaps it will be frankly acknowledged that
the sound maXims of the latter may now be
allowed their due force upon the minds of
thoughtful and intelligent Democrats, who
were held under obligation to suppress their
convictions at a time when to utter them
might have "hurt the party and enured to
the credit of the Wings. Admitting the
Justice of this plea, which perhaps equally
applies to some other current Emergencies
from the ancient Democratic faith, we are
brought to the melancholy conviction that
allegiance to the Lecompton Constitution and
implicit faith in the English Conference
bill, +" as the last word and highest develop
ment of Democratic wisdom, alone survive as
the infallible criteria of modern Democrat.
When difference of opinion is tolerated upon
all other questions, from the expediency OF
reviving the slave trade TO the policy OF
improving the navigation OF the Saint CLAIR
Flats, while on the other hand it is pertinaci-
ousy insisted that no true Democrat can
either add to or subtract from the words Of
the aforesaid English bill. we are left to infer
that the latter is employed merely as a con
venient symbol for the recognition of the
faithful, since none, we suppose, Will lmpute
to it aught of dignity or Importance as the
embodiment of any great Democratic principle.
If, then, the symbol fails us as a criterion,
we are left without resource; and that 1T does
fail any serious searcher for Democratic truth
must be apparent to any one who has made
the experiment. For it cannot have escaped
the notice of any intelligent observer that
even this test is not held to be vigorously
applicable outside of Illinois.
Under these circumstances we are sure
that our considerable friends OF the Richmond
Enquirer would not have us commit our
selves hastily to any particular fragment or
wing of the eXtant Democracy. 1t seems to
us, at least. the part of prudence to watch
and wait until the elements shall seem a
little more favorable to rational and happy
selection among the piebald and heterogt ne
Gus claimants to the name and honor OF
representing the true Democracy. 1t would
be notifying, after renouncing our old faith,
to find that we had accepted in its stead
spurious and supposititious evangel.