Litchfield enquirer., 1860-09-20
Communications.
DEMOCRACY-WHAT IS TIT
N O.. 8.


 t DEMOCRACY-WHAT IS ITf
 No. 3.
 MR. EDITOR eferson is again abroad, not with argument, not with sound reasoning, not in the spirit of one seeking truth, but in true demo- cratic style, with reckless assertion, fulsome adu lation, insiduous threats and with spirit, ready to cringe to the abhorent demands of political necessity. Portions of his last article need no answer, call for no answer, and it is only where can see something definite, where I can see a principle laid down, something asserted as fact which is erroneous, or untrue, that 1 will trouble you with reply. Much of his last article is bold assertion, entirely destitute of any founda. ton in truth, controverted by the facts of his tory, which should have been in his possession and the language which he uses, clearly satisfies me, that he is poorly versed in the political his tory of the country, that his attachment to that false democracy which now rules the country is stronger, than his desire to disseminate correct opinions. look for argument, reason, truth and if he will but clothe his articles in these ha blliments, (say nothing of the slight tnge of per sonality which runs throughout the same) he shall not find me slow to reciprocate the favor Mere assertion is not argument, unless it contains the element of truth, assertion without truth, will
 
 dation of his political faith.
 Jefferson asks me to be moro Specific" would reply, why not practice that virtue your self? Why ask me to do it, and omit to do it yourself7 Was not my first article specific enough? Ordinary minds would see nothing about it so general but that it could be easily understood. Were not the positions frankly stated? Jefferson knows they were, and that they were "specific" in every particular But does the difficulty lie here? l suspect not suspect too much truth was stated, and stated too strongly to suit his belief, and seeing this, he could not controoea7 it. If it were not true, why was Jefferson not little more specific, v and point out wherein, it was untrue? Hereaf- ter then, when he asks me to be more "specihc, v let him practice that virtue himself. By way of preliminary, Jefferson in his article said, that democrats endeavor to c0ncince by argument and fur discussion" This he laid down as gener- al proposition, and we had right to expect that ke would practice according to his democratic precept will take him at his word. Let us see. aThe msole History of the opposition to the dem- styuted Me .f1ct, that they were conscious of tue ,reakness of Ntei, cause ,cah tue people, Gc." l take it as fact that the republican party is em- braced in the word opposition and that he so in tended to include it. Such being the fact, what part of the history" of the republican pa'ty, shows any such weakness ?" What fact' in it's history shows any such thing?
 The history of the republican party, is plain and open one, and if any part oft has "demon- strated' any such weakness" if in it's history, there exists any fact" clear and palpable any such weakness" why has Jefferson not shown it? Does he see weakness" in its many tri- umphs? Does he see weakness" in the strong hold which it has in the affections of the people Al. lo { s,, the fact, that the cause of republcanism is push ing its way, slowly, silently but surely, and peace fully into the very heart of it's bitter enemy? Does he see weakness in the fact, that in our struggles with his argunentatice and con0incing democracy, we have taken strong, bold, and earnest ground, in favor of right justice, truth and humanity great and immutable principles. lying at the foundation of free government? Does he see weakness" in the fact, that we have pushed his democracy so hard and so strong, that we have succeeded in almost driving the filthy reptile from beyond the borders of the free states! Does he see weakness in the fact, that by our perseverance, we have driven his conglomeration of all absurdities, to the wall, and compelled it to exhibits true character and position in all it's hideous deformity, the antag onism of its principles, and the falseness of its position before the world? Does he see weak ness" in the fact, that under the storm of bitter reproach, of foul invective and calumny, of base and dastardly falsehoods, that have been heaped upon us, through corrupt, and filthy democratic speeches, resolutions and journals, we have rais- ed up party, so united, strong, energetic, and determined as the republican party, which now bids fair to wrest the control of the government from the hands of those who are unworthy, and unfit to hold it? And where in all this is that ".fuct' of weakness so clearly demonstrated " Jefferson will speak out, and give us something specific" If to be right, or to seek to be right, to love liberty and hate oppression is weak ness then is |" their cause weak. It to desire to extend liberty to every child of the human family is weakness" then is C their cause" weak. If to desire to stop the spread of an in- stitution, which makes merchandise of the flesh, bones, blood, sinews and intellect ofa portion of the human family, because they are black, which reduces them from the character of beings, crea- ted in the image of the Almighty to the condi- tion of things, is Q weakness, then is their cause" weak. If to desire to spread light, truth and knowledge, throughout the land, if to desire to induce mankind to study, think, and act for themselves, upon all great questions of public concern that are'constantly springing up around IS, and engaging our attention, is a weakness" then is "their cause" weak. If to desire the prosperity of the whole nation, in all and each department and vocation of human industry. if to labor for that, by all honorable means, is a weakness then is their cause" weak. Again do look for that "y1fact," which has been so clearly demonstrated" of the "weakness' of the republican cause. And this is the kind of argument" democratic argument" and fair discussion" which is used to convince the peo- ple, that republicanism is black contagious heresy, and that democracy, is the great medi- cine for all political diseases. "Weakness' of the republican party! Never was there party which stood stronger in the world. Never a party that had brighter political prospects before them. Never a party that had stronger induce ments, to cling with undying, eternal fidelity to the principles of it's organization. "Weakness P in what! In it's organization, in it's principles, in their adaptation to the circumstances wants and growth of the people. Jefferson, look around you and tell me where are the signs of "weak- ness 2" You see party, strong, compact, and determined, fast and surely driving you to that atate, where you will be known only as dirty, driveing vagabond party, of the nineteenth centu- ". No, the charge of" weakness" exists only in a Jlstempered fancy, or in the brain of him, who courts deception at the expense of truth.
 l find Jefferson far from the truth in another particular, and to be charitable, it shows him to be quite ignorant of the principles of the repub- iican party. Speaking of the principles, ends, tsad aims of the republican party, he says, "haey 5are abaadoned aA Me old issues which for so long time divided the two great parties, &c." !" IS tpossible that Jefferson believes this, and does he mean to be understood as asserting it as