The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1860-07-26
The Originni Meaning Of The WORD
"DcmOcracy"-- -rhcn and Now.

"DcmOcracy"--Cn and Now.
Ph,loscphcoly speaking, in the present dis
trnrtel state of those parties calling thcmselve
Democratic we know of no study more interest
ing tim that OF the original meaning Of th'
word - 'mocracy,' rs cunlrnstcd with the acts
of those who then worshipp,d at its shrine, on,
those of the present day A retrospectiv,
glance over the early history Of the Fathers %
American independence viii satisfy any Intel
ligent mind that those words, which once were
40 popular that their sound wn9 'ni'mau lul
rousiug mutltudrs to action, have become ST
metophoroscd that their uttrreucr is Justly rr
garied "s species of baseness, bord. ring ou
blackguardism W. presume it not necessary
for us TO cite examples in proof of the above as
sertion. for the observing reader will readily
summon from the stores of his memory scores OF
them. We will premise however, by nlludiug
20 the word AIstocraCy, which in its original
sense, or primitive use, meant the government
OF he best aud wisest in the community, ani
an Arlstocrat was one who governed wisely aud
well; but by the irrqlent abuse Of power, Aris
tocrst has become syuonomouS with upStart, ly.
IuIt anu ttSUul, ullu hIlSlbCidEy HdS u tbiItS-
ponding sigufcation The same may be said OF
Democracy. In the Grecian Republics. where
II was first coined, it had popular use which
stirred the hearts of the people. 1t meant the
government of the people, by sustaining gov
ernment based upon the will OF the people, aud
has its best and clearest exposition, according
TO the original sense, in our Declaration Of In
dependence. Such has heretofore been the
meaning to these words that they have in times
gone by, been made the rallyiug cry for the
million. For a man 10 profess allegiance to
Democracy, and call himself Democrat, was
enough to win his way to popular favor. Bur
this has been aud is now abused by two see
tonal parties who have monopoized its each
claiming 10 be the real genuine simon pure
that il is fast becoming distaSterd to the peo.
pie, aud will soon be AZ odous in the popular
estimation as Aristocmt. Tory and Fcicraiist
Democracy as exhibited ia the prlciplcs aud
acts OF the two parties, assuming the name OF
Democratic, no longer rcSpr cts the equal rights
Of ALL but has become an instrument for extend
ing system of caste moro exclusive aud de
moraliz;ng than that which obtains among the
Hindoos or any other Odrntal people 1t di.
vides the inhabitants of State into uborrs
and monopolists. or servants aud masters. Aud
this division is not confined to volor alone, Tor
according to high democratic authority, among
both wings Of that party. there are in these
United States, either north or south, hus two
classes, between which there is an cver-wideu
ing and insuperable barricr--the one practical.
ly masters or owners, aud tho Other servants or
slave. We are well aware that this exposition
of Democracy aud given by Hcrchcl V. John
sou, the Douglas candidate for Vice Prcsi tent
aud other democrats in gool Standiug' will be-
bitterly rcpuJiated, in words by many in the
north who b'long 10 the so-clllnd democratic
parties; but at the same time they will, hy their
actions in sustaining them, prove that the fore.
going explanation OF tho modern use of the
word is the true one, We do not deny that the
word is theirs by right of possession, for il has
been their party designation, AMI they cannot
be diveSted OF It, no more than can a Catholic
or a Protestant be robbed of that which di,tin
gulshes him from other christians. But in keep
ing the name, this consequence follows b. an
inevitable law OF language, that as the party or
parties to which the name belongs. deviates OF
departs f'om the original principle, oG freedom
aud equal rights they once prolessed the mean.
ing OF the word, in It's customary use. viii un.
dergo corresponding change This process
oi change will go on, however loud the parties
may be in their professions of adheranc, to their
original principles; it will be determined, not
by profession, but by practice.
Both Douglas and Brecknridge followers
may continue TO harp upon "the virtues of the
reliable old democratic party" but no better
evidence is venting TO show that the meaning
is something directly opposite, Under the
name of Democracy it is possible that the 10
norant and unIhnkins may bo Induced 10 do
the very things that will bind their own free
limbs IN the chains of slavery, which they fancy
they are only helping to fasten on the black
mLn; and Tor the very same reason on the psr,
ol the people, d D'mocracy may on,nue to sway.
the destinies OF these United States. until ther,
Is established end confirmed what is now in its
Incipient stage, a Great Slavchoding Conredrr..
cy or Despotism in which the whole population
white and black shall be divided mo two prsat
claSs7s-one consisting Of masters, owners and
SHAREHOLDERS, and the other OF laborrrs. servants
and slaves. But we would not anticipate for
our country such fearful destiny. The sue.
c'ssive steps by which those lahoring under IN,
name Of Democracy have been whepdcd into
the support of slavery, has rendered il hatrd
and los lhsome thing. This is practically illus.
trated in the refusal Of the Douglas or. ans tol