The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-29
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.


proof conclusive that mo great length of time will
elapse before it will again have control of the
government And this fact of itself, we think,
is one of the strongest evidences of the perma-
nence of the party. 1t has withstood the as
saults of every party which has existed in this
country, since the year 1900; and lit stands to-
day unawed in the presence of its mighty antag-
onist, watching and guarding the Constitutional
rights and liberties Of this people, with the same
sleepless vigilance that it did in the days of JEFF
ferson.
That the Democratic party may and has, at
times, met with defeat, we are aware, but it
cannot die while Liberty itself lives; for the
principles of the Democratic party are the foun-
dvtion-stones upon which our forefathers erected
the Temple of Liberty, which the Abolitionists
have been forty years trying to tear down, and
which we fear they have well nigh accomplished.
The Democratic party has lived to see party af-
ter party rise up to oppose its principles and
measures, and after short-lived existence pass
away to give place to another witha more cap
tivating name. During all these struggles for
power and place, by the opponents of the Demo
cratic party, it has stood unmoved, contending
for those great principles of right, which are
the only sure foundation of freedom, prosperity
and happiness. That the will of the people is
the only legitimate source of power, and that all
power thus derived is q trust to be used and ex-
ercised for the good Of the public alone, and that
those who from time to time are clothed with
this power are but the peoples agents. and should
beheld to strict accountability for the perform
ance of their trust, and that to secure the due
execution of this trust, the people should have
the free exercise of the right of suffrage unawed
by power and uninfuenced by corruption.
Who that has calmly viewed the political
struggle that has just passed, that isnot impress
ed with the permanence of the Democratic party
and the business of its cause? Who that has
witnessed the augmentation to its ranks of men
high in position, honored among their fellow
men for the purity of their motives, and actuated
by nothing save an anxious desire to see the
Government return to the purity of other days,
but who is impressed with the fact that the prin-
ciples of the Democratic party are the source of
its success. With no contracts to give no Off
ces to bestow, no patronage to distribute, and
thrown aside by many of its former followers as
thing too poor to feed the greedy, and too
weak to pilot the anxious to the public crib, it
accepted the ISSUE and fought the unequal con-
test but 'truth is mighty" and victory crown
ed its efforts. We do not contend that the Dem
ocratic party accomplished all this alone, but it
was the only organization which presented
united opposition to the Abolition party, and re-
fused to succumb to its supposed superiority of
numbers. Men who loved liberty and abhorred
the fanatical notions and oppressive rule of the
Abolitionsts, came to the rescue of the doctrines
of their fathers. Many of these men had attach
ed themselves to no political organization, since
the dissolution of the old Wing party, and stand
ing aloof from all parties, viewed with calmness
the struggle between the Democratic party and
the Republican party; the former contending
for Constitutional guarantees, and the latter
against it-until becl;oned by duty they entered
the ranks of the Democracy, and are justly enti-
tied to share of the victories gained by it in
October and November, over the most debased,
corrupt and tyrannical political organization
ever known in this land. Unlike those who
abandoned the Democratic. party to enter the
ranks Of victorious enemy, these men came to
us in the hour of our adversely, and when the
only reward we had to offer them was the purity
ofiour principles and the business of our cause.
May we not, then, lay claim to this as an adj
ditional proof that the principles of the Demo-
cratic party underlie the whole system of our
government?
We do not, however, charge improper mo-
tives on all who for time, seemed to abandon
the Democracy. We are aware that in the ex-
element of the moment many well-thinking
people are misled by the Misrepresentation of
those who make politics trade; but there is
this consolation left, that when the moment Of
reflection overtakes them, they soon turn from
the wrong to the right way.
Previous to the late elections, the Democracy
were the victims of the vilest ISLANDERS that were
ever heaped upon one, party by another. From
the New York Tribune, the great luminary Of
the Administration press, to the smallest satellite
which revolved around il every epithet which
malice could suggest, was unsparingly heaped
upon it; but now, as in the days of Federalism,
the Democracy have risen in their strength, and
ere long will hurl from power those who have
abused the peoples confidence. No sooner did
success crown their efforts in the late contests,
than some Of the foremost and bitterest Of their
fevilers-with the same facility which has al.
ways led them from the weak to the strong party