Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-02-09
A SIGNIFICANT INQUIRY.

The following article from the Washington
States, one of the Democratic organs publish
cd at the seat of Government, gives gloomy
picture Of the present prospects of that old
and once powerful party, known as the Demo
cratic party =
HAVE WE a DEMOCRATIC PARTY AMONG Us (?
The doubt implied III the above interroca-
tory, however startling at first sight. appears
anything but absurd on examination Nav.
at the hazard OF contradicting the vulgar pre-
Judice, and shocking our own sense of seculi-
ty, oblidged to announce the deliber-
ate conclusion that there is now no Demo
cratic party in existence. And we will ven
ture the assertion that the parodoxicaI opinion
will be embraced by all observing and reflect
ing persons.
OF individual Democrats, dispersed over
the country, each with his peculiar profession
of faith and object of pursuit, there is IN
qucstionably very abundant supply But
they no moro constitute party in the phiIos-
optical and practical sense of the word, than
heap of uDhewn and unadiusted stone con-
stitutes palace. For the realization of that
idea, there must be primarily common foun-
dation, then due subOrdination and fitness
among the parts, and finally complete unity
of organization. We doubt if any one Of
these conditions can be predicated Of the
Democracy.
In the first place, will any man pretend to
affirm that Democrats are agreed upon basis
of principle In respect to which one among
the political issues before the country is there
so much even as an unanimity in the ssparty?'
Not surely in regard to squatter sovereignty.
The disagreement between the President and
his Secretary of State on this subject is the
symbol OF an equivalent difference among the
Democracy. Not in regard to the Pacific
railroad, for here again the chief of the Ad-
ministration is at points with his Secretary of
war, and the class of strict construction
democrats dissent from the faith of their less
scrupulous associates. Not in regard to Fed
eral appropriations for the Improvement OF
rivers and harbors since the division of the
Cabinet on this issue is likewise responsive
TO similar division among the mass of the
Democracy Nor yet is there anything like
unanimity in the ssparty'' in regard 10 that
most important matter OF all-the tariff ques-
tion. in respect of which Mr.. Buchanan affirms
one belief, while Mr.. Cobb maintains directly
the opposite.
We need not recapitulate all the points of
divergent doctrine among the Democracy. Ii
is sufficient to say that upon no single issue is
there adequate agreement for a common basis
of action.
In the matter o. organization, we discover
an equal absence of concord and unity in th,
party. We have Lecompton aud an an
tl-Lecompton faction; there arc the followers
OF Douglas and here the adherents of Buchan
an IN short, as many as are the aspirapts for
the Presidency, so many are the cliaues and
eabals among the Democracy.
heretofore, the Administration has afford.
cd raliying point for the individuals of the
party = but, instead, it is become an origin
al occasion Of dispute and dissension. In
these latter days, the recommendation Of
democratic Executive implies little more au-
.hoIIty with Democratic Representatives
than with member of the Opposition
IN one particular the Democracy are thought
10 DC very generally agreed in opinion and