Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1858-03-10
The Entering Wedge.

AHc GAsoliuS NeuSc.
The Democratic party has been al
anomaly in the history of political parties
under a republican government If ha:
existed long after the measures which ii.
founders advocated have been fullv ant
entirely carried cut, long after the prin
ciples upon which it was based, have beer
utterly repudiated By the party which
still bears the name. and long after the
men whose sterlinghonesty, iron strength
of will, snd great talents had raised the
party to The zenith of its power, had
gone down 10 their graves. The names
of Jefferson, jackson and Calhoan have
been the only foundation upon which the
popular faith in the Democratic party
has rested, for the last.twenty years, and
with the brilliancy of those nenes, the
party leaders have dazzled the eyes
of the populace. Sill clinging to the
name of Democracy. without a single
vestige of its priRciples remaining, the
party has maintained its organization
almost intact, leading its rank and file
now this way, aud now that, to-day
advocating one principle and to- morrow
another, yet still keeping together. its
forces in an un5rosen phalanx, by the
mere charm Of the name Democracy
The Federal party, to oppose which the
Democratic, was first organized, ceased
to exist more than a quarter of a century
ago. The Wing party, which opposedthe
Democratic. on the question of a United
States Bank, and a tariff, has been bro
ken to pieces; the Bank question is OBJ
'%solete, and the Democracy have had for
years, complete control of tariffs.
Still the party grew and Hourished.
s~preadingits branches far and wide, until
within its shadow it had embraced the
whole power ofthe Federal Government,
sucked up its immence patronage, and
sending its roots deeper and deeper into
the soil. The blows of the Federal party
had fallen upon it, in vain; the battle
shock ofthe Wings had shaken its branch.
Nes, but disturbed not its roots; but at last
The worm of slavery penetrated its heart
and its leaves began 10 witber. Then
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
fell upon it inficting a deep and still
gaping wound, and the branches began
TO fall.
Still its tremendous vitality would have
prolonged its existence for years, had
not the suicidal policy of the present ad-
'ministration given it the coup de grace,
by attempting to thrust the Lecompton
Constitution upon the citizens Of Kansas;
by force, to compel a people who after
ly abhor slavery, to receive it as a part
of their domestic system. and 10 retain
it there in spite of their indignant remon-
STRANGE. This last is the entering wedge
which, when driven home, will srlit the
Democratic trunk into atoms.
Upon that wedge, the heavy blows of
Douglas. are failing thick and fast; the
tremendous weight of the Ohio Democ-
racy. almost IN masse, is already press
ing down upon it; ready to come next,
stand the whole Of the honest pant of the
Democracy in all the Free States, with
additions from the Slave States;
and pressing close behinl these, is the
vast phalanx of the Republicans.
Though these forces are acting singly
now. yet large fragments are daily bro
ken from the brittle trunk OF the Demo
cratic party, and when all shall be com
bined, and the wedge driven home, the
Democratic party will be rent asunier, !
and Ike IFS predecessors, numbered
among the things that were.