Gazette and sentinel., 1861-02-02
Democratic Organization the Safety
of the State.

States Of the South, with the certainty nearly
that the same glorious acts will be effected in
the other ten-are the browning triumphs of
its achievements since the Declaration of In.
dependence in 1776, and the Inauguration at
the same time of a new era Of progress and
extension West and South on this continent,
compared to which the rise Of Democracy in
the past will be as a ripple to the wave.
This grea. march of human rights and hu-
man welfare, embraced in the synonym of
Democracy, cannot be expected to be accom-.
Plished without an ever watchful eve guards
its time honored principles and usugas, that
no traitorous spirits poison the minds of the
people and wean them from their allegiance
to so noble a cause, the firmer the adherence
to which places man that much nearer his
Maker in mind, majesty and bearing.
True, Democracy now embraces almost ev.
cry pure and patriotic heart which stands by
the pelican Flag" in veal or in woe, but that
is none the less a reason we should still keep
in sight and in practice the customs of Dem
ocratic organization, rigidly, unreservedly and
impartially. 1t was the losing sight of this
principle, or the imperfect formation of those
safeguards, indispensable to the preservation
and welfare of a Democratic people, which
has made Mexico one grand battle field since
the death Of lturbide, and which, in 1918,
put an end to the Republic in France.
Let US then take warning that no such IA.
t~alities happen to us in the new career which
destiny is opening to US. Let us not be too
sanguine, too confident, too certain of the
preservation and perpetuation Of our liberties
and our institutions through the intelligence
which 1t is thought will guide us, combined
with that natural love for Democratic princi.
pies which 1t is presumed we have imbimbed
under the banner of the Stripes and Stars :"
but shun an oVerwrOught self reliance upon
our devotion and patriotism, and our own
strength in carrying onward in our new ca.
reer-wthout the usual usages and discipline
consequent 10 the old organization-that stan
dard OF Democracy under which We have
gone On "conquering and to conquer from
the Declaration In l776 to the act of Seces.
sion in l8Gl-be not too secure in our own
honor and fealty-but by adhering with the
tenacity and instinct of sell. representation to
the rules and the exactions of the Democratic
Experimentation which, like the iuabili.
-
ty to breathe, both our own life and the lives
OF our institutions would perish-we would
preserve our land from being incarnadined
with f~raternal blood and save our heads from
the heels of the usurper and the despot.
Thus by preserving and continuing those
old Democratic rules and usages which are
binding upon all alike, We will not alone be
saving and perpetuating the Republic of Lou.
lsiana, but we will be kept united, strong, pro-
sperous, wealthy, happy and free!
1t is well known that there are men-iew,
thank Heaven who would prefer to see the
country itself engulpbed than to have Demo-
crazy perpetual. viii they not be active, at
a time when another star in the national fir
mament OF an enlightened people has burst
forthl VIII they not attempt to dim its lus-
tire by their scbismatic designs in SEPARATING
the people from the prop and stay of their
power, their freedom and their prosperity
their old Democratic faith and allegiance
andthus-(as in an army whose strength and
invinclb'lity are gone and its ranks decimated,
unless its laws are obeyed and its drill aud
discipline strictlyadhered toby inertness or
neglect on our part in the customary discipline
and regulations which insure the success OF
any political organization, scatter to the winds
the followers and the principles of Democracy,
and bury in one common grave, the hopes,
the Liberties, institutions and power of a once
happy and prosperous peoplel
But weswill not look to so sad an end as
the dowqfAn of the very principles by which
the present new order of political affairs was
brought about 1t Is all important, however,
as a preventative to so great a disaster, that
the means used to mske the people powerful
and happy in their Democratic organization,
or which clothed them with invincibility and
gave to them the sceptre Of power, be still
adhered to with that faith, fidelity and zeal in
its discipline and ordinances, which have ev.
err made the organization so powerful, trium.
plant and fearless. In a cause so great as
the advancement of human liberty and hu.
man happiness, no degree of pride or prospe.
rity should ever erase from our minds the
axiom that eternal vigilance and an enlighten.
ed mind is the price OF both.
Its prestige gone, its banner broken, where,