M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-01-07
The Mission OF The Democracy.

not Wllllngly, however, that when tle
Democratic party ceases for any length
Of tine to govern the country, the
country, as now organized will cease
to exist. We say this in no spirit o.
partisanism, but from earnest convic,
ton. We believe in the doctrine o.
Ipopularizing our institutions, and We
know that progress has been made il
that direction, and yet it is manifest
there is, proportionably, less republi
canism among our people to-day than
when our experiment of self.gOvern.
ment was first started by the Trainers
Of the Constitution. We can question
that if any large proportion of the
States Of this Union occupied the same
political status that Massachusett:
does, that our people would have
reached point from which our pres.
ent form Of government would prove
Il failure. We do not allude to tic
question ofslavery, but to that condi.
ton ofmind and morals entering into
their political and social organizations,
which make manifest their deterora.
ton in all the elements Of their origi-
nal republican character. They have
colleges and schools, churches and
chapels, capital and labor, luxury and
want; but none nor all of these con.
stitute well regulated liberty. The
mother countries had them, from
which the Pilgrim Fathers fed. The
worst despotismS Of the world have
had them.
The anti.republican spirit of the
times, the abandonment and disregard
OF the elementary principles of our
Government, coruptions and reck-
lessness in public men, are not pecu-
liar to Massachusetts. We only in.
stance it as probably the most striking
example for our purpose.
Men are growingreckless of princi-
pie, and proportionably reckless Of
consequences to the country. The
patriotism of those who should be the
standing lights in society has been
given away to the consideration ofthe
dollars. Men would rather be mil.
lionaires than statesmen, and are be-
ginning to value political preferment
very much as they estimate the stocks
at the Exchange. Their ideas ofleg.
islation partake of the same character
Everything is based upon dollars and
cents and, when their philanthropy
even extends beyond their own pock.
cts to their constituents, the question
is, how much richer it will make
them--what additional advantages
for making money it will afford them
what increased facilities for trade
and speculation it will give. The
liberty Of the citizon--the rights Of
the citiz3n--the actual necessities Of
the citizen-peace and security, polit-
ical and social equality--things that
concern all alike, and are especially
dear to the great mass of our plain,
substantial people, are subordinate,
and often palpably neglected.
To such an extent has this tendency
in legislation gone that many good
men, tcrgetful Of themselves, are fall
ing in with the idea thatit is the bust
ness OF Government to take partial
charge and management ofthe private
concerns of its citizens. Hence we
hear it spoken of as a parental Gov,
eminent, as though the people were
its creatures, and not it the creature
Of the people. Hence the desire fol
a splendid Government, as though the
the republicanism did not consist in its
very simplicity.
The idea has been growing that il
is the business ofGovernment to make
money. Hence the establishment oI
banks and other moneyed corpora.
tions, in which the States have become
parties. Some have thought that il
was the business Of Government tC
build railroads for the people to carry
the products OF the country to market
Some have thought that it was the
duty Of Government to fashion the
morals OF its people, and as a conse,
quence have followed the Maine-liquol
law-ism aud all other isms growing
out Of the question Of temperance re,
form. 1t is this class of thinkers who
have swarmed the country with petty
corporations, in derogation of the right
of the masses; and who wo1ld, il
permitted to have their way, convert
our institutions into mere corporations
centralized, unlimited in power, and
ending in revolution or a king.
Against these combined errors oi
the times-fanaticism, error and cor
ruption--the Democracy have to con
tend much of which may have crepi
into their own party. Every party
has its household nuiSances, and We
may reasonably suppose that the Dem
ocratic party has its share Of them -
That the best and ablest men should
be chosen for office is no necessary re-