The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-05-13
The democratic Parly-Its Mission.

DP history Ol tue DSilOCTdklG pdltls iOiH /
the days ofits illustrious founder, the immor-
tai JEFFERSON, down 10 the present time. prove
it TO be as essential TO the maintenance and per-
petuity of the Republic under the institutions
ordained by the fathers of the Constitution, as
is the Christian organization to The welfare and
happiness of The human race and II IS indeed
refreshing and instructive TO 90 back to the
earlier epochs of our country, and to contem-
plate the successive triumphs OF Democracy
over bigotTy and intolerance, and the men ana
the parties that, from Zine to tune, have sought
TO pervert our form OF government INTO an IN
srument of oppression, and to entirely change
its aims aud purposes.
The first and memorable victory achieved
by the Democracy over The enemies OF the rights
of man and the haterS and contemners oi our
institutions, was in sweeping from The statute
book the odius alien and seditlon laws establish
ed by the elder ADAMS, and by which he Strove
10 perpetuate his ili-gotten power. The cleo
ton of Thomas JEFFERSON, in 1900, secured
the the domination of Democratic principles
and policy 10 governmental affairs tor a long
series OF years and in 1912, during the Ad-
mnistration of JAMES MADISON, the Democra-
cy won its second great victory, IN illustration
Of its patriotism and nationality, by vindicatlng
the insu!ted honor Of our flag IN just war,
Illuminating the vaunted pGowesS OF Great
Britain on land and sea, and covering the ad-
versarirS Of our country, at home and abroad,
with shame and confusion.
During the Administration of JAMES MADISON,
The opposition to the Democracy-those who
had scolied at the war policy and other acts Of
Democratic dmiuisiraton-seemrd to 5e en-
tirrly routed and driven from the field, and that
period was hence characterized as "the era OF
good feeling"
Not much oc CURED during the short term of
10. ADAMS in the Presidential chair, from g
- to 1929, to mark the radical difference be-
tween The Democracy, as the champion OF equal
rights and liberal institutions, and the party,
no matter what various names and disgu lses it
has assumed, which has always been arrayed
az alnst it, and seeking its overthrow. But the
bold, vigorous, and fearless home and foreign
policy Of ANDREW JACKSON, who succeeded
/ him, soon changed the aspect Of affairs, and re-
created and invoked those sharply-defGed party
lines and landmarks which, during long poll
teal calm had become almost obliterated. From
that time, We may date new era in politics
the opening Of sea o. conflicting waves of
public sentiment, whose sQrgrs are even now
around and about Us, swaying mems opinions and
infuen cling their action. JACKSON, like JEF-
I FERsoN, was a man OF the people, and symPa-
thized deeply with the masses. He was re-
iormer-a foe TO wrong and crying abuse, 10
matter how sanctioned By age or authority
F The m0ney-pawer Of the land had centralized
and so!idifed itself ~ vast national institution
which, like a gigantic Bfiareus, stretched out its
arms into all quarters Of the Union. He saw
/ at once how this immense corporation, govern
ed by th 1t instinct of selfshness and passion OF
avarice which control, more or less, all similar
! institutions under the direction OF bad men,
might be used to embarass the Government, to
ensIave the people, and TO beset and demoTal-
/ ize the public mind through bribery and spec
ua' ion and be determined, like hero as he
was to interpose his veto TO its recbaTter and
! to nut It down. The great heart of the Demo
cracv responded 10 his efforts; and though the
denounced him as a radical and a Jaco5n, he
succeeded in prost7ating the monster, amid the
/ paudits and blessings II the good and the true
/ IN every section Of The Union.
| The next memorable triumph of the Demo-
cracy in behalf of the people, and over the
/ friends OF chartered privileges and the specu-
Iating classes, was the entire dyorcemenl Of the
! Government from Banking institutions, by the
establishment Of the Independent Treasury-a
system which pours INTO our public Golfers no.
thing but the Constitutional currency OF gold
and silver - system which holds every
fiscal agent of the Nation 10 the strictest
/ accountability, under pains and penalties OF
fine and Imprisonment, and system which so
far has secured the Federal Government a.
ganst The loss Of single doll
The next triumph of the Democracy over
the enemies of the Republic, within and with
out, was the victory OF our National arms IN the
war with Mexico, and the consequent acquisi-
ton of New Mexico and California TO our Ma
tional domain. As part of this achievement
because The crisis grew out of our new acqui-
sltion Of territory,) may be classed the passage
Of the Compromise measures Of 1850, by which
the Union was saved from threatened Gissou-
tion for although many good and patriotic
Whlgs, under the lead Of CLAY, stepped into
he breach, still the work was mainly accom-
plshrd under Democratic counsels, and bv
Democratic hands and hearts
Il When il is remembered that all the glorious
tSults to which We have hurfiediy alluded
! nd which Eave redounded 50 greatly to the
! ioHor and welfare ofthe nation - have been
accomplished, IN most cases, IN the face OF
fierce and relentless opposition, who dare say
That the Democracy IS not a necessary element
of our couutry's progress, ard that its existence
IS not as essential = our develobment and pre-
servaton in the future, as it was TO our great
ness in the past If it was necessary to save
the Union heretofore, it is still armed with The
same weapons, and the same purpose, for all
coming time. 1t is now grappling with that
monster, SEcTIoNALIsM, as it grappled with the
monster Bank nor will it release its hold until
that many-headed hydra lies strangled in the
thrnns nE Gnal Li.cnlnLicr, Dc,a n Q .L,u.a.,