, 1859-07-01
The DemocraIIc ParIy-Its mission.

The history Of the Democratic party.
from the days Of its illustrious founder, the
immortal JEFFERSON, down TO the present
time, proves it to be as essential to the
maintenance aud perpetuity Of the Repub-
lie under the institutions ordained by the
fathers of the Constitution, as is the Chris
tian Organization to the welfare and hap
piness Of the human race; and 1t is indeed
refreshing and instructive to go back to
the earlier epochs Of our country, and to
contemplate the successive triumphs of De-
mocracy over bigotry and intolerance, and
the men and the parties that, from time 10
time, have sought to pervert our form of
government into an instrument of oppres-
sion, and to entirely change its aims and
purposes.
The first great and memorable victory
achieved by the Democracy over the enc
mics of the rights Of man aud the hGters
and contemners of our institutions. was In
sweeping from the statute book the odious
alien and sediton laws established by the
elder ADAMS, and by which be stroye to
perpetuate his ill-gotten power. The cleo
ton Of THOMAS JEFFERsoN, in 1900, secured
the domination of Democratic principles
and policy in governmental affairs for
long series of years; and in 1919, during
the Administration Of JAMES MADISON, the
Democracy won its second great victory,
in illustration Of its patriotism and nation
ality, by vindcatiDg the insulted honor OF
our flag in a Just war, humliating the
vaunted prowess Of Great Britain on land
and sea, and covering the adversaries Of
onr country, OF home and abroad, with
shame and confusion.
During the Administration Of JAMES
MADISON, the opposition TO the Democracy
those who had scOifed at the war policy
and other acts Of Democratic administra-
tions-seemed to be entirely routed and
driven from the field, and that period was
hence characterized as "the era Of good
feeling"
Not much occurred during the short
term of ]. Q. ADAMS in the Presidential
chair, from 1925 to 1929, TO mark the rad
ical difference between the Democracy, as
the champion of equal rights and liberal
institutions, and the party, no matter what
various names aud disguises it has assumed,
which has always been arrayed against it.,
aud seeking its overthrow. But the bold,
vigorous, and fearless home aud fereign
policy Of ANDREW JACKSON, who succeeded
him, soon changed the aspect of affairs, aud
re-creattd and invoked those sharply-defn-
ed party lines and landmarks which, during
leug political calm had become almost
obliterated. From that time, we may date
new era in politics-the opening of a sea
Of conflicting waves of public sentiment,
whose surges are even now around and
about US, swaying mems opinions and in
fuencing their action. JACKSON, like JET
FERsoN, was a man of the people, and sym
pathized deeply with the masses. He was
rerormcr-a foe to wrong and crying
abuse, no matter how sanctioned by age or
authority. The money-power of the land
had centralized and solidGed itself in a
vast national institution, which, like gi-
gantic Briareus, stretched out its arms into
all quarters Of the Union. He saw al
once how this immense corporation, gov
erned by that instinct OF selishneSS and
passion of avarice which control, more OF
less, all similar institutions, under the di-
rection Of bad men, might be used to en-
barrass the Government, to enslave the
people, and to beSot aud demoralize the
public mind through bribery and specula.
ton; and he determined, like hero as be