The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-11-20

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The Editor hss been i'll all this
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The readers Of the JETrrRsoNiAN viii
excuse all short comings in this issue
ANCIENT vs.. MODERN DEMoCRA-
CY.
PhilosopliCally speaking, we know.
of no study moro interesting than that
of the original meaning Of the word
Democracy" as contrasted with the
acts of those who then worshipped at
the shrine aud of those Of the present
day A retrospective glance over
the carly history of the Fathers of
American Independence will satisfy
any intelligent mind that those words
which once were so popular that their
sounu war n talisman for rousing
multitudes TO action, have become so
metamorphosed that their uttcrancc
is justly regarded as a species ofbasc-
ness, bordering on blasphcmy. We
presume it is not necessary for us to
cite examples in proof of the above
assertion, for the observing reader
will readily summon from the stores
of his memory scores Of them. We
will premise, however, by alluding to
the word aristocracy, which, in its
original sense orprimit.vc use, meant
the government of the best and wisest
in the community, and an aristocrat
was one who governed wisely and
well; but by the frequent abuse Of
power, aristocrat has become syuon.
omous with upstart, tyrant and des.
pot, and aristocracy has cores
ponding signilication.
The same may be said Of Democ-
racy. In the Grecian Republics,
where it was first coined, 1T had a
popular use which stirred the hearts
of the people. 1t meant the govern
ment of the people, by sustaining a
government based upon the will of
the majority, and has its best and
clearest exposition, according to its
original sense, in our Declaration of
Independence. Such has heretofore
been the meaning ofthe word Democ-
racy that, in times gone by, it has
been made the rallying cry OF the
million. For man to profess allie.
glance to Democracy, and call him.
self Democrat, was enough to win.
his way to popular favor. But this.
has been of late years so abused by a.
class of politicians that it is fast be-
coming TO the people, and even now,
is almost if not qnito rs odious in the,
popular estimation rs Aristocrat, Tory
and Fcderalist.
Democracy rs exhibited in the
principles and acts of the party as
suming the name of Democracy, as
exhibited in the late elections, no
longer respects the rights of the ma
jority. 1t has not only become an in
strument for extending n system of
caste more exclusive and demoral. !
izing than that which obtains among
the Hindoos or any other Oriental
people, but it would destroy our no
tional eSistence in accomplishing this
object. Democracy. in the modernI
acceptation of the term, if the laborsI
of those, claiming its paternity, in
tbs intereet OF the rebellion are to be
received rs the criterion, seeks to III. |
vide the inhabitants Of n state into
laborers and monopolists, or servants
and masters, regardless Of color or
caste. We are we'll aware that this
exposition of Democracy, proclaim
ed by modern leaders is bitterly re-
pudiated, in words, by many in the
North who belong to the Democratic
party, but at the same time they have
by their actions in sustaining them,
proved that the foregoing cxplnna-
tion of the modern use of the word is
the true one.
We do not deny that the word De
mocracy is theirs by right of posses,
sion, for it is their party designation,
and chey cannot be divested of it, no
more than Catholic or Protestant
can be robbed OF that which dstin- .
gulshes him from other Christians
But in keeping the name, this conse-
qucnce follows by an inhvitablc law
Of language that as the party, to
which the name belongs, deviates or
departs from the original principles
of freedom and equal rights it once
profcssed, the meaning of the word,
in its customary use, will undergo a
corresponding change, aud this pro- (
cess of change will go on, however
oud the marty NAV he i'm its nrofess H