Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-05-19
The Right of Private Judgment not an
Attribute of Modern Democracy

platforms OF poltlcal peii'i'
the exigencies Of the times just as they
choose. The great voting mass OF me
party have but one duty; that is to
sanction at the ballot box, what the
leaders for the time being pronounce
orthodox democracy. These platforms
are not made to meet the demands or
the interest of the country, but so con-
trived as to ensure the greatest political
sueeess. The national Democracy OF the
State of Illinois. not long since issued
an address in which they put forth the
following sentiment
"Rv the term National Democracy We mean
those who hold that the members OF the J AIRY
are hound TO acquiescc in whatever course ne
uo,tD mar deem proper Vndsr The guidance y as
r,0ulorlu constituted authorities 20 pursue, without
regard to local prejudice or personal capilce'
Here National Democrat is defined
to mean one who has no mind, princi-
pies or purpose Of his own, but who
takes for authority whatever is enuncla-
ted by the acknowledged leaders OF the
party. Those in authority do the think
ing and contriying, while those who are
numbered in the ranks, have nothing to
do but vote as they are directed. The
right Of private judgment on political
questions, is not to be INDUCED by a
true disciple of the democracy; his
business is to go where he is hidden
follow where he is led, aud maintain
unwavering faith that the party can do
no wrong. This is no distorted picture
it is nothing more than a legitimate
deduction from the the text Of the Hi
nois democracy.
According to the democratic journals,
negotiations are in progress at Washing
ton to unite the Douglas and Buchanan
wings Of the party. Some half dozen
democrats, conspicuous among whom ID
Senator Green Of Missouri, have taken
upon themselves the business Of con
structing platform ofprinciplcs for the
great democratic party Of the Union to
unite and stand upon. These men agree
upon the terms of union, and the trans
fer of principles, as if it were q bargain
and sale of lands, cattle or horses. Who
authorized Senator Green and few
others to make articles ofpolitical faith
for tAe democratic voters of the several
States of the Union? Yet, strange as
it may seem, democratic presses speak
encouragingly of the prospect Of an
agreement among the leaders, without
knowing or seeming to care what prin-
ciples are to be yielded, or what new
political dogmas are TO be endorsed, in
order to complete the bargain. The
plan or the issues agreed upon, DO not
matter so much, provided it only prom
Uses success in the next Presidential
Election. Principles are no longer i'm
mutable, but change with the seasons
The great mass Of the party have only
to wait until the platform Of union is
signed by the high contracting parties,
then they will be required to swear by
it, That there are difficulties in the
way of satisfactory adjustment of the
differences betweenDouglas and theAd-
ministration division Of the party, is Of
course apparent. Hitherto the diversi.
ty of opinion on the leading issues has
been so wide, as to require now great
sacrifice in the matter of uniting. 1t is
most likely, after all, that the doctrine
enumerated by the Administration organ
at Washingten-We C0aStttution,--as
the true test of democracy, will be the
faith presented to the people for their
acceptance. This is summarily stated
in the administration organ as follows
we therefore are forced to say the Constitu'
ton prohibits the several Territorial Legisla.
lures from aboshing property in slaves, and
the same prohibition applies to the PEOPLE Of
territory till they come to form a Constitution
preparatory to their admission into the Uni0N.'
The plain Interpretation ofthis is, that
where slavery exists, no power can abol
ish 1t and wherever it does not alrea
dy exist, 10 power can hinder its going
The popular hobby used in the last Pre-
sidential Elt elton, " the right of the PEG
pie to form and regulate their domestic
institutions III their own way" will, q
necessity. be repudiated; at least the
Southern pressure has lattorly been SO
strong against it, as to require its being
thrown aside.
II cannot be denied that the idea OF
the infallibility of the democratic party,
which has SO generally pervaded the
mass Of democratic voters, has been one
of the chief causes of its success in past
years. The great body of the party
obeyed the bidding Of their leaders
without requiring explanation. The pc
tency of the name has been sufficient tc
command respect and obeyance. And
now, as tito provide for the continuance
of this condition of things and to pre-
vent the masses from indulging in free
inquiry, the Illinois democracy issue
their mandate as has already been no
ticed above. So long as men can be kept
in the delusion that they are linked tc
infaillibility-tAat those whom they lool
mp to as political guides are perfe 1t
and that it is sin against the democra
ey to doubt the word of its professe6
opponents, then the nartv Is sr,.n to or