, 1860-01-06
Democracy and Democrats III 1882
und III 1860.


ber snow from the bare remembrance Of the
summers heat" and hundreds Of thousands Of |
voters who formerly voted with unsWerVlng |
fidelity on all occasions with the Democratic |
party have found the furce of old associatl ions |
mud their ancient regard for tile party aud its |
avowed principles, as cnuncatcd IN the Gays 0!
Jackson, or in more recent times, not powerful
enough 10 force them to sustain the modern po- |
liticai hercsics, directly autasonlstic to former
Democratic teachings, 10 which the Admlnlstsa-
,iou and those Who sustain It arc now endea'or-
inv to commit tile Democratic oEsanization..
MANY changes amazed Rip Van Winkle when |
he awUke to life, ufier his protracted slumbcr,
uud found youth transformed to age; tue
once feeble and dependent American colonies
converted into free and powerful Republic;
George III thrown conicmptuously from the
tavern signs to give place to the representation
Of the bonored countcnancc Of the "rebcl"
hero, George Washington. But the changes he
beheld could mot possibly hare excited IN his
mind more surprise than would be manifested
by General Jackson, ii lie were now to return
to earth, aud behold the movements Of tue po-
litlcal circles over which he exercised the con-
trolling influence of q master spirit.
II is astonishing 10 consider how many
murked changes have occurred IN tue relat'se
position uf men aud parties since he marshall
led the Democratic hosts to yictory, and by the
wisdom and Justice Of lis Administration ad-
dcd new lusre to his country's glory. The ln-
innate personal and political friends and sup:
porters Of the old hero would no mure he found
nlocratie party. Francis r. Blair, his bold and
fuithfu editorial champion, who made tue Gtodr'
the Democratic text book Of the nation, is now
one Of the most activc and influential Leaders
| of the Republicans. His son, F. T. Blair, Jr..
ot St. Louis, is 90 able ana fearless champion o.
nephew, 4. J. Donelson, was an Opposition eau
| diiatc fur the vicc-Prcsidency in 1876. The
| sturdy old Senatorial champion Of Jackson,
| the venerable Benton, died 1eplo1ing the policy
| Of tho present Administration, and dlstrusled
and denounced by those who assume the lead
| crslip oil the Democratic party. The favorite
Of Jackson, Van Duren, wus the leader Of the
| great detection Of 1SAS. Suites and districts
which delighted TO do him honor would now be
found tue most determined antagonists Of the
New York, and Pennsylvania, he would lind
| the once wcll-established Democratic ascend
cncy destroyed. The rural districts. which in
many bitter contest uuainchlugly adhered to
the Democratic cause, are now, most OF them,
earnest in their opposition to it.
Tue vacuum in the old Democratic party
which has bereft it Of its former power has been
to some extent filled, it is true, but by men
whom jackson would he startled to see occupy
ing the position Of Democratic leaders. What
would lie think, for instance, Of changes which
had made his lifelong enemy, VIM. B. Reed.
| Auu !euoe41 4 'ct, s"t. ',1o t,ot,e~ =, E.:
his bitter antagonist John 1yief, Democra1'c
leaders IN lenns5lVan1a; OF Mlso ana lun1es,
both his political foes inc controlHns SPIRITS ~ N
Virginia Or inc transfer O. mans 2on.ns.n pI., ~
! prominent positions in the Democratic party
Stephen 4. Douglas he would now mud on triai
for rebellion and contumaey,. prescribed Ia the
Senate Chamber, and ostrnclsed irom = c9m,
nittce Of which he had long been aalst'nguisnsa s
chairman; and in the Presaential Guar he
a. old as
na!Iy recelred with dtstIust, ana VINO nas a?s
eyinccd oil the desFotlsm OF IN aGtocrat IN nis
efforts to fasten his t5rnnnlcat Policy as nut
stone on the nccks OF the democracy Oh 'ne
country ,,, ,,o,,,,a
would require far more space than tae eonnnea
llmNs Of y newspaper a1licie. II AeiG ie,et tenec