The Van Buren press., 1860-05-04
Democracy.


frequently, declare the decay radical and
begin an untimely moaning over the sup
posed departure of political grandeur
Intellectual superdcisli,y is the supreme
characteristic of latter-day politicians
They mistake names for ideas and princi
pies. and fear lest a change of the type
may be forerunner Of change or destruc-
tion Of the thing typi6ed. Democracy, as
the embodiment of grand, noble and eter-
nal principle, is in no danger. Its radius
strike deeply into the coe OF the American
heart. and spread with liie-giving energy
into every nook and corner of modern Re
publicanism. 1t is the idea embodied in
our system of government, underlies and
its saving influence permeates through all
our subordinate institutions. Trial by
jury" the crown jewel in the blessed coro-
net. Magma Caarta, is the very issue of
true Democracy. Freedom of religions
opinion is the same. and perfect liberty
stripped Of all shacklcs, and clkhed in the
pure efulgence of civilization and enlight-
eminent Is its Legitimate fruit. Democracy,
without perfect liberty, is myth which ex-
listed in the brain of excitable Frenchmen,
but vanished before the lights of experience
like the summer cloud before the rising sun
Can liberty such as We possess 6c rooted
out from the hearts Of the American peo-
pie? If not then cannot Democracy be
destroyed. They are SO intimately blended
that one cannot exist without the other
Democracy is quickenea by the sublime
, idea Of self-government - an idea which
cannot be smothered, nor is its progress re-
tarded. 1t moves on majestically in its di-
| vine mission, and turns not aside for the
strifes which beset its path. No antagonis-
tic power can overthrow democracy as a
principles an embodiment of an idea
ing to the governed the deplorable effects of
its absence The present party which
claims to be the representatives of the idea
OF democracy and which has better grounds
upon which to vinjicate its claims than any
other contains within itself q power that
may well be feared by the advocates Of the
idea Development belongs to ideas,
change to the vehicles or tangible express
ions of them. A party. being composed
OF men. may be based upon an eternal
principle. Vet SO variable is passion, and SO
subject are men to its workings, that the
party will vary from its primary conception
although the principle or idea remains intact
and unchanged Hence the party, like the
rainaent-so to speak-o; the idea may de-
cay and fall off whilst the idea remains the
same The principles OF Democracy are
the same now when the divine spiration
was brea,hei into the infant republic by its
fathers and the trainers OF its Constitution.
But the principles have upon them fungus
which vegetables In the hearts OF ambitious
men, and at this day hides entirely from the
superficial observer the living essence be-
meath 1t Is difficult for man long to love
pure abstraction. Hence We see advocates
OF democratic principles deserving the ab-
stract, and bending to the tangible. Ignor-
ing principle and following men who claim
to be the visible representatives Of this in
visible idea In polit;,s ideas must be rep
resented by men, but the devotees of this
idea should be guided by it and not by the
mere representative Of it. The representa-
tive may vary the idea can never vary
Consequently the party called Democratic
is now agitated by internal factions, caused
By forgetting the principles and following
the man. There are many men-,here IS
b1t one principle-that is, it is in the ma
ture Of unit, for how many soever princi-
pies we may have, they are always the same
unity, and party which faithfully repre-
sents principle must remain the same in
spirit whilst that party which follows men
will be divided into as many factions as
there are aspiring politicians 1t has been
truly said. "no two men think exactly
alike" and if the people of America would
only keep this simple truth in mind, there
would be less of abstraction, and clearer
conception Of those eternal principles which
constitute true democracy. American de-
mocracy, not being pure but mixed or
representative Democracy, should be the
more carefully guarded from this debilitat-
ing and destroying effect. Representative
men in this country are but the concentrate
voice and power of the people unless they
be held firmly to the principles which vital
ize American Repub blicanism thew are apt
to give loose reins to their passion for pat
riotism, and in their wild desire to climb to
the topmost round of fame's ladder, they
sink patriotism, principle and national
identity into nothingness or use them as in
struments by which they may facilitate their
exaltation. America is much to blame for
calling that an honor which is achieved by
the prostitution or abandonment of princi-
pie. Men build to themselves an altar
and we call it the Presidency, or Senator
ship-admire the external structure, and
forget to look benesth for the corruption
upon which this admired superstructure is
based. We call this one great, that one
great, until the title has become sn eho.P -
to fal to convey its legitimate idea, and has
almost descended to synonym Of corrup-
tion. bribery. desertion of principle. A re-
action in politics Is Is certain and regular
as reaction in feeling; this intense corrup-
ton, the resalt of man-worship, is not
symptom Of decay in democracy it is but
precursor of new era Another genera
tion and principle will Be exalted shove pas
sion ideas above men, and our nationality
will shine forth in all its deserved beauty
and grandeur. Then all men will reflect
and seorn the idea Of permitting one man
to do the thinking for an entire constituency.
Then will the political satellites hide their
heads and no longer prate to ignorance from
the limited depths Of asuper6ciality worse
than ignorance. acF 3 ssa" - PAcIFTc.