Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-16


Perhaps they would, and we would have no sort
of objections to the Kentuekian, the Missssippian
or the VirginiaI. Our Tennessee friend Andrew
johnson, is not to put too fine point upon it. too
fond Of homestead bills and all manner of ad captain
tandu affairs to please lis. Hes, so speak, slightly
ademagogue. Besides, Tennessee has had her chance
The Standard says that the working men of
America ought have voice in the election of Pres
ident. Don't they have? Who are the people in
the United States who are not working people? We
trust the day is far distant when there will be any
separation of castles or classes WiL Journal
Our cotemporary of the Journal does not precise
ly or fully perceive the meaning of our article. In
some brief comments on an article in that paper in
relation to the Presidency, we said: "Mr. Ham
mdnd made speech some twelve months ago in the
Senate in which he dwelt at some length on the
white slaves or working men of the North. That
speech would not benefit him much in contest for
the Presidency. The working-men of America
ought to have a voice, and a potential voice in the
election of President We do not think the mass
of the people would take very decidedly to Senator
Hammond"
We said the working men of America ought to
have not only ga voice." but "a potential voice in
the election of President" Certainly, in saying
this have no idea of attempting to separate our
people into castles and classes. We are as much op-
posed as any one can be to any thing of that kind
We are for evellng up, and not for eveling push
ing down. 1t does not follow because we object to
the nomination of Senator Hammond on account of
his tone towards working men, or because we advo-
cate the rights of working themselves, that we
are arraying one class against another But the
Journal asks, "who are the people in the United
States who are not working people?" We answer,
habtual ofice-seekers some office holders, dandies,
timeservng and trading politicians, persons who
subsist on individual or associated wealth wrung
from the hard earnings of the poor and all who
sumo without producing. All others are working
people Some work very hard, and are barely able
to live. Their best friend is God. Some work very
hard, and abound in income and prosperity. Some
work moderately, and prosper; and some hardly
work at all. But the real workers are those who
cultivate the earth and those who abrcate for hui
man comfort and convenience the various products
of the earth. These people generally called far
mers and mechanics; and these are the people whom
we insist ought to have, not only "a voice" but "a
potential voice" in choosing their rulers Are we
| right? We think are. Is this Democracy |?
We think it is. We may not be able to find it in
the resolutions of '9S and '99; but the trainers of
those resolutions held the doctrine and practced it
too. The meaning of the doctrine is the greatest
good Of the greatest number; and if that is not De-
mocracy, then arc we at fault. Gen. Jackson was
never suspected of disposition to create castes or
classes to array one class against another; yet
his last words upon earthly things were-"Take
care Of the laboring men-the farmers and mechan.
les of the country; give them gold and silver for
their labor, not bank rags" ~ y
We agree with the Journal that "our Tennessee
| friend Andrew johnson, is too fond of homestead
bills" We do not like that; but how does the
Railroad? Besides, the Journal has no objection to
Mr.. breckenridge; and yet MIR. Breckenridge when
member of the House of Representatives, voted for
the homestead bill. We Democrats must not ex-
pect to see candidate nominated at Charleston who
will please all of US in every respect This is by no
means perfect world, nor is the Democratic party
perfect party. 1t is the best party we know of,
and the only national party yet if We look for per
fection in any thing human we will look in vain
Now, we are no mans champion for the Presden
cy. We have not even indicated preference MOI
do We expect to do so but as we have used Andrew
Johnson's name without his knowledge or consent
and as the Journal has charged that "he is, so tc
speak, slightly delnagogue," feel bound to say
\ word in reply "A demagogue is defined by lexi
cographers to be- "a leader of the people-a leade,
of the rabble" We know of no word in the Ian
of&o Al
this word demagogue. To "lead the people"-tc
head them in good cause, is surely not objection
able. But suppose they are led or carried away ir
bad cause whose fault is it? Either they have
been deceived, or they incapable Of selfgovern
ment If deceived-ard deceived they must have
been, for the people of this country are capable
self government-thcn the man who led them off is
deceirer, and ought not to be trusted even il
private life Now, we have never heard it said, CT
seen it charged, that Andrew johnson deceived tht
people. He has incurred the imputation Of dem
agogism, as others have done, simply because hi
has advocated the peoples rights. His strong
sympathy with the masses Of the people may
now and then have carried him too far; but
depend upon it, if he had ever deceived the people
of Tennessee, he would not now be the favorit
among them that he is Andrew johnson is
working-man himself, and knows how to sym
pathize with working people" He is native o
this City, where he worked when boy at the tai
lor's trade. Raleigh and North Carolina may vel
be proud of him. We like him, and we do not hes
itate to say so. We know it is more or less fash
ionable among certain politicians to underrate hin
and disparage him; but that, SO far from changing
our opinion of the man, only attaches us the NOR
strongly to him. If johnson is demagogue, thel
is the country full of them
Since our article to which the Journal has referre'
was penned, Aaron V. Brown has been summoned
to another world He died at his post faithful
laborous, and most useful public officer. The Pres
idency and all earthly dignties were very small il
his eyes in his last moments. Let US hope that h
has found rest brighter and better sphere than this