The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-08-26
.ls,ory Of the DcmOcratiO ~ rty

Those who are attached to the Democra-
tic party will feel 4 warm glow Of pride
aud satisfaction when they look back to
the glorious history Of that organization,
which, commencing its career with the ex.
Istence Of our government, has administer
ID it so triumphantly and brilliantly, with
but brief intervals, ever since. There are
but few things which inspire more plea
surable emotions than happy memories OF
the past and that organization or associa-
ton which has an honorable history ap- !
peals most strongly to the confidence and
feelings of men. The annals of our coun.
try, ssys the Cincinnati Enquirer, are
thickly strewn with the story of the conti' |
nued and repeated triumphs OF the Demo.
cratic party, and Of its iIlustrious represen-
tatiVe men, over the opposition, which has
been arrayed against it in SO many forms
and phases. The sympathies Of youth, and
of all who admire greatness and glory, can
not but be enlisted in favor Of that party
which has given to the nation, ten or ele-
ven of its fifteen Presidents which has
persistently shaped its national policy
which has originated and carried every
great measure that has tended to the ag-
grandlzement and honor of the country !;
which has always been intensely patriotic
and American in its feelings; which has
never once struck the flag of its orgsnza-
ton, but which has successfully beaten and
overwhe lined half dozen different parties
and combinations that have been arraycd
against it, and which has, over and over
again, been endorsed as the only party that
was fit 10 rule and shape the destinies oi
An,erica.
When it commenced its remarkable ca.
reer of triumph, the Union consisted of bu
thirteen States, and, under its auspices
against tremendous opposition, ninetse1
new States have been added to its nationu
constellation. 1t acquired an empire from
France and another from Mexico it brough
a separate republic (Texa) into the Union
won the golden soil of California and, BY
these immense acquisitions, it made ou
boundary extend from one great ocean 0
the world to the other-for the Atlanti
washes its eastern and the Pacific its ives
tern shore. 1t looks forward to the tint
when Cuba, the Queen of the Antilles an,
the gem of the Gulf of Mexico, shall b,
added to our brilliant coronet, and whel
"manfest destiny" shall carry American
| institutions and the American flag init
realms that at present lie far beyond ou
political vision. No other political organi
cation that was ever formed in this UnioI
is calculated to inspire these feelings, but
on the contrary, they coll up "reminiscences
that we would fain Danish forever from ou
4 recollection. In the commencement 0
our history, the Federal party was the grea
. opponent of the Democracy. At its hea
d were many OF the illustrious patriots Of tn
o revolution. 1t contained large amount Q
+ private respectable ty and public virtue, an
a at first it bore off the luurels OF success
from its great antagonist. But, alas, folIie
e and treasons soon darkened ito escutcheon
g its high.handed proceedings Under the ad
d ministration Of John Adams, in 1898, an
g its want of patriotism and its British pre-
civities during the war of 1912; its malig
nant violence against its country in tina
struggle finished its career, and ever sine
the name OF "Federalist" in a politica
I sense, has been considered to be opprobious
4 Next came the "NationaI Republicans"
). high-sounding designation; but its caree
: was ephemeral and brief, and is associate
:, in our mind with exploded and erroneou
!. ideas Of government, whose history it is ur
o pleasant to recall, since they are only redo
t, lent of defeat.
!. Then came the Anti-Masonic crusad
}. which, for while, in some sections of tn
;. country, was very popular, sweeping every
!. thing before it and threatening that venera
e BILE and illustrious society with ruin, as we
e as the time honored Democratic part,
0 against whom il was politically arrayed.-
e But the tornado soon spent its force thos
who had been largely governed by impuls
l. and feeling in support of it became sensib
y that their fears of Masonry were but
e phantom, conjured up by designing polite,
demagogues and knaves for their own benz
e fit, and in few years the crusade was di
is missed as most ridiculous and ill.advise
D, political movement. Its successor in II
III political field was the Wing organizatio
Of that name having been chosen because
s. was identified with illustrious revolutiona
memories, and, therefore, likely to be pop
lar. For twenty years it struggled ha
against the Democracy. 1t was led
'r' men Of genius and talent--its was powerl
In IN numbers, but it accomplished nothin
as As its measures were behind the progre
ch Give spirit of the age and were lacking
&C. genuine American feeling, the masses
'n' that it could never be entrusted with I
ia direction of the government. When
al great leaders were laid in their graves
nat was disbanded by its adherents as faiIu
The as they hastened to connect themselves W
other organizations. With the career
the two parties which rose upon its ruin,
" so.called "American" and "Republica
,,;. our readers are familiar, and we think
md will agree that they have conferred no g