Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-11-30
Democracy.

friend of the people--tho proudest boast
and glory of our nation, and its last and
brightest hope. 1t has ever been the cher
ished political sentiment of the great and
noble minds of every era in the worlds
history, and long did the fires of its excel
lence burn beneath the dark sway of tyra-
ny which for ages blackened the broad
domains of the eastern hemisphere. AT
times its struggling flames would burst
through the black ruins of downfallen des.
potisms, but scarcely had the people gath
cred around to test its virtues and bask in
the warmth of its gcniel light ere it was
again stihed by the cruel oppression of
am bilious tyrants. Nobly did Democracy
battle with the corrupt aristocracies and
selfish despots of the Old World, till every
hope of triumph had vanished, and suffer
ing humanity deeply mourned the defeat
of this great and good defender while the
manlclcS Of oppression were rivited more
firmly upon their cringing forms. But
Democracy is invincible-it is unconquer.
able-no earthly power can subdue it,
No sooner had the star of this great con.
tinent arisen, revealing broad and mag.
nifccnt theatre, undefiled by the foot steps
of tyranny, than it threw off the chains of
subjection, spread its broad pinions and
thither took its fight and upon the shores
of the mighty lakes and rivers, amid the
enchantmcnt and loveliness of the beauti-
ful valleys, and upon the spreading bosoms
of the vast prairies Of this glorious land
did it rear its asylums for the oppressed
of the world and cultivate the germ of
liberty. Carefully did it train the young
and tender plant until it grew to the
stately tree, spreading its branches in all
its native pride and beauty, bearing the
blossoms of maturity. and sending forth its
golden fruits
1t is hardly necessary for US to review
the history of the American Democracy,
for it is the history Of our nation, and has
been committed to memory by almost eve
ry schoolboy in the land. To its disorete
councils we owe that mighty talisman OF
our greatness-the Constitution and the
establishment of the natural order of so
ciety and the happy social relations upon
yb al, II LII
provingly for more than eighty years.
To its wisdom and righteousness We owe
that sublime rain bow of hope-the Dec
laration of Independence which SO glori-
ously spanned the dark sky Of the Revo.
lution-the noble insignia of our future
emnence rs a nation. 1t was the ardor
which aroused the proud spirit of 76,and
kindled the camp fires Of the Revolution
upon every hill top and ia every valley 0
the firm and united arch Of thirteen smal
colonies. 1t was the patriotic spirit whicl
= welded the mighty swords Of Washington
0 and Green in the great struggle for right
1t was the FIRE which gave such burnin
force to the thrilling eloquence of Henry
Adams and Lee, 1t was the powerfr
= sentiment which moved the gifted pens {
Franklin, Jefferson and Jay, Aye, it wa
the hand that dared to inscribe the nan,
= of our young republic upon history's pag
:. and hold it up before an astonished worl,
that dared to bid defiance to the tyral
upon his throne, and throttle his merce
naries while delivering the cruel and vaun
=. full mandates of their despotic monarch
n. that dared to vindicate our rights upc
of the great highway Of nations, and untu
=. the ensign of freedom in every port
ID which the finger of commerce directed
n. 1t sung the glorious pean of victory
- New Orleans. 1t bore the Star Spangle
- Banner in triumph over the spreadiI
plains and delightful valleys of Mexic
and planted it beneath the deep shadoN
of the great Cholula and over the magr
to fcent halls where once the war councils
,e the proud Montezumas were held Lo,
~ into the darkest periods of our history
be seek out the painful scenes Of fierce al
H. bloody contest, and you will ever find t
as heart Of the nation safely sheltered behi
lat the broad shield of Democracy. But b
IN. its course been smoothe and unobstructe
he Has it placed us in the most promint
niche in the gallery of nations without
struggle? All, no. Terrible and mum
rous have been the encounters which it |
om had with the enemies of the Constituti
rs. Notwithstanding we owe all our glory a
er' all our liberties and prosperity to its f
"a tering care and vigilance, it has be
h openly and clandestinsly assailed by je
Gus factions and sectional parties, who hi
We | II kbo ,,,nst ,r;lc,l Col =,