The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-03
DECAY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PART

DECAY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
/ The observations we recently made upon the
dying condition of the socalled Democratic
party in the free States are fortified by the late
J elections in the West. We see there the same
results that were exhibited in the New Eng
land States, TO which we drew attention. The
Democratic party, instead of recovering from
the effects of the blows dealt by the Repub-
icans in former years, exhibits only growing
] weakness
| In Ohio, for example, there is no question
that the Sham Democracy exerted its utmost
power, and with confident expectations of sue
cess. Its leaders were animated by the same
hopes that have ever animated that party after
its defeats, and they anticipated the old results.
But the true ring of the Democratic trumpet
was lost. 1t gave forth but a cracked and dis
cordant sound. The old bugle note of inspira-
| ton was wanting. Douglas was there with his
popular sovereignty delusion, Pugh indicated
himself against every suspicion of Lecompton-
ism, and declared against the more offensive
tenets of the slayeholding aristocracy but it
was all of no avail. Ohio is fully persuaded of
the apostacy of the Democratic party, and re-
newedy repudiates it, after full and deliber-
ate rehearing. The opportunity to recover this
great State to the bogus Democracy will never
again be so favorable as it was at the last cleo
ton.
The popular-sovereignty hobby was fresh and
alluring. When exhibited by its ablest priests,
with all its newness, and gloss, and sophistry,
it was fair to suppose it would have power 70
delude many weak but wellmeaning minds.
But it has not accomplished even this. 1t has
not obtained even a temporary foothold. 1t has
been riddled, and its hollowness and falsehood
all exposed at the start The Democratic mass
es have not been entrapped by its DISCUSSES for
moment, not even at the period of their
strongest inclination to accept apologies and
excuses and promises of amendment from
their hitherto trusted leaders, with all the
glorious memories Of old Democratic triumphs,
and old Democratic hopes and aspirations,
thronging thick and fast upon them There
is no question that everywhere in the great
North and West, the hearts of the people are
warm, glowing, and sympathetic, with the idea
of genuine Democracy. There is no doubt,
4l.--.-l---4-~,.-:
that bears the name of Democratic, with strong
degree Of favor, and many would willingly re-
enlist under the old banner if they could be
persuaded that the party leaders meant to be
hereafter true to its ancient traditions and prin-
ciples. Many have caught at the idea of popular
sovereignty, so persistently propagated by its
priests, as being or iutimating return to its
abandoned positions. They have ardently de-
sired to find in it an easement from their en-
barrassments encountered in leaving an old
and cherished political organization, for one
with new leaders, and without the prestige of
stability or success. The ears of the masses
have been everywhere wide open to receive the
new gospel of squattersovereignty Democracy.
They have only needed to be satisfied that it
was genuine gospel, to have wheeled back in
thousands and tens of thousands to their old
positions as lifelong members of the Demo
cratic party. Every advantage has been af-
forded therefore to the Democratic leaders in
the North and West, to enable them to restore
their shattered ranks. But they have been ut
terly unsuccessful The late elections conclu-
sively demonstrate that they have everywhere
signally failed, either to convince their old fol-
lowers of their soundness on fundamental doc
trines, or to delude them by specious pretences
With every advantage in their favor they have
again been driven to the wall. The people
have given another unmistakable vote of want
of confidence. They have been caught in none
of the snares, nor made victims to any of the
decisions of the sophists who have been prac-
ticing upon them.
Our conclusion from this result is marked
and emphatic. We say the old Democratic
party of the free States is dead of suicide. 1t
is gone past recovery. 1t can never again fight
so strong battle as it has been able to fight
both last year and this. Every days discussion,
among the people, of the great apostacy of
which it has been guilty. weakens its ranks.
Every days discussion and exposition of the
popular-sovereignty swindle by which it is try
ing to stay its dissolution, only goes to under
mine its foundations. We have heretofore
briefly, but we trust clearly, exposed the fallacy
of this giant pretence, and shown its utter un-
seundness and hollowness. When this rubbish
of Douglasism is entirely cleared away, as it is
likely to be before another general election,
the Democratic organization must stand before
the people in all its naked deformity. 1t will
be palpable before mankind, that tits a party
of aristocracy under Democratic flag. 1t
will be plain to all who desire to see, that the
great doctrine of the equal rights of man, so
long its cornerstone, has now no place in its
creed or its affections. 1t will be seen that it
has exchanged its original radicalism for pro-
found conservatism. From being the champion
of Liberty it has become the supporter and de-
fender of Slavery. From holding position
where the simple asseveration of its principles
was sufficient to shake the thrones of the Old
World it has subsidized into meek echoist of
the offensive and false dogmas upon which
those thrones rest.
| As this vital change Of position is more and
more thoroughly understood, the popular con-
domination viii become more and more decisive
and indignant. We confidently believe in, and
expect to see, the overwhelming rout and final
extinction of the existing Democratic organiza-
ton in all the free States. And the Republican
party, if true to ITSELF must mount into its seat.
1t is the inheritor of its doctrines on the one
distinguishing feature of American Democracy,
and is will inherit its triumphs. The logic of
/ the case points to this result. The facts, as
disclosed IN the elections of this year and last,
afford unerring indications ofequal significance.