Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1860-11-16
From the New yotk sun.
A Memorable Date.


lar will, which to the eyes Of cool observers
hal been slowly and maesiically growing
for the las, two Presidential terms, now tc-
Gniiely asseris and registers ITSELF with the
force Of law and Of destiny. We DO not
propose to dwell on the singular sublimi'y
OF the spectacle, but TO take an Independent
common sense view Of the fact, ITS meaning
and Its tendency. We compute IL as the
third Of those great rising. Of the democrat
ic mass which have taken place, thus far In
our political history, about pnco in the life
Of a generation or one third Of century.
These three movement, appear 10 US to
have had the democratic principle for their
common impulse. and to have followed each
other like successive waves Of an Advancing
tide which bears US on iron generation TO
generation by an irresistible law OF our POI
litical nature. toward the practical realira-
tioh Of tho absolute political equality OF all
ranks and conditions Of men.
The Jerersonran political revolution was
the Gr.t victorious movement Of the demo-
cratic principles again', the mixed notions
Of federalism, Capitalization, and CAUTIOUS,
conservative restriction Of liberty which the
iir, and pures, age Of the young rcPubllc
had inherited FROM tho ari,tocratic colonial
period. The democratic ided, was really
cnthroncd by this successful movement. but
the ari,toc raey Of capital and culture still
held ITS own 80 we'll. that practically tho
government remained in It's hands.
The second. or Jaeksonian movement, was
purely pra,iiai rcvol. agains, thi'.condi-
ton OF things. The antagonists in this
great struggle were no. conflicting primer
pies or politics. but rival ela'',' Of 'oe'siy
eon,ending simply for power. The demoO-
racy again triumphed, and swsp. on to a
higher iidc-mark than before, demolI'hns
utterly the grand citadel Of Capital as po-
li,ical power, which vi. tho connection OF
government with the banking aud credit
system.
Tho money arisiocracy now found a las,
refuge in the Cotton interest, which at this
period began to take the FIRST rank asa com
merical power. and by means Of It's compli'
cation with the system Of African slavery,
wa. (noihing loth.l thru', by tho Adolf
tioui,is into position Of no less political
importance. Through the corruption OF
Democratic leaders, who were never sincere
men Of the people. bat merely selfish dcma'
sosucs, and through the prompt adhesion
OF thorough. going Southern icdcnli'i, aud
aniiJaekson men who saw their opporlu-
nifty. the Cotton intercs, was fastened upon
the Democratic party organization. add
with IT. natural partners, the frcc-'radc
Importing interest. aud tho powerful inan'
cial system which grow up with the growth
Of the cotton trade, succeeded in obtaining
absolute control Of tho party machine.
Tho sincere leader. and massc. OF tho
Democratic party gradually comprehenied
tho chang, OF management, and began 10
fall away from the regular organization,
Some returned, and Others eluns obstinate
" to the party, submitting to the old ~
ran, in hi, new disguise, for the sake OF par
~ cIpc,iiency. until she memorable con-
aiei In Congress, over President Buchanan
Kana' policy. That stos' oa,ras, upon
the democrats principle In tho territories.
cor the benefit Of Cotton and Commerce.
rent the Democratic party asundor, tearing
away the great mass Of the sincere dcm,c
racy. with Dousla. at tholr head, from the
embrace and denomination Of the c0ugl5m.
Grated embarrassing. hbor.oWulns, mer.
etanliling and moncy.dcalius olisarchy
which had ruled In the name Of the Demo.
cratic party. ever since Calhoun, the cnchy
Of Jackson. became enc Of II. Leaders.
Th, W., only a 6n,iing stroke. The
majority Of the people throughout the
States in which labor or democracy !, r0-
lilical power. following their unerrIns dem.
ocn,ic instincts. bad already moved ou, Of
lh' nominal Democratic fold, and wo now
see them mas.cI with overwhelming unani.
nifty under the kindred name u "RepubIi.
cans" in their old a,lltuis Of opposition q
the moncyed and labor.ownlns oliglrchy Of
the country. Not solitary one Of their
old Democratic principles has been len be.
hind. Examining their Viow,, and scruti.
niIing their name, aud anteccdeni'. as they
stand now ready once more, TO assume con.
troll OF the Government. We are surprised to
recognize both 10 principle and personality,
sim, old Democratic mas, on the ono side,
opposed to the same 81, Of naughty and priv.
ileged class interests and their inveterate
hangcrs.on Of the old Wing party, tina,
were arr,yed agains, each other IN the de-
cisive political contests Of other day.
We have gone over this retrospect, TO
show wha, We mean by defining the popu.
lar decision which takes form to-day, as the
third great vaVo Of democratic progress,
which ha, virtually demolished the latest
and :he las, conceivable entrenchmcn, Of OIL.
igarchical pre,en'ions in the United States.
The official form and name Of the democrat.
&c party have been corrupted, perverted, de-
serted by their followers, discarded and
oyerthrown bat the democratic party It.
scIf-,hat Is, ITS people and its principle
still lives, more than ever triumphant, and
inrinciblc and to its will we mus, all bow.
We ought. as individuals. TO DO this with