The weekly Butte record., 1863-10-10
"Wha. is Democracy 2

week, ID an able and well written, but
somewhat ingenious article. Having
no desire but to place the united Dem
ocracy Of California upon correct and
we'll understood ground, We propose to
pursue the subject little farther, be-
heving that the democracy will be bet
ter prepared to successfully resist the
assaults of their political opponents, if
they agree on what constitutes democ-
racy, and the public become thoroughly
acquainted with their understanding Of
the subject. Of course We do not sane
ton the Inference Of the military to
control elections, and thank the Express
for its fair Interpretation Of the omission
in our former article.
Democracy is a vital and enduring
principle. The government is demo
cratic in form. Democracy has admin
istered the for three -fourths
of century, and few feeble colonies
became mighty nation of rich and
powerful States. Notification and Sc
cession presented its hydra head, and
received the emphatic anathemas Of a
Jackson, and disappeared from view.
Who then thought there was no power
vested in the general government to Co
cree refractory State! If this was
democracy, sanctifed and rendered holy
by half a century of national prosperity,
and power that demanded and enforced
the preservation of the Federal Union,
what is Democracy now! Was it
democracy to use the army for the sup
preston of rebellion in Kansas, as was
done under Pierce and Buchanan, and
not democracy to use the army for the
suppression of rebellion in Virginia
There is no vital principle in democracy
if We admit this. Does the violation Of
the constitution, and the disregard Of
laws by Republican partisan admins
tration change democratic principles, Or
the duty of Democrats to their country!
Of course not. If it shall change men
they cease to be governed by democrat
ic principles. For three fourths of a
century the democracy have boasted,
and consistently too, of their devotion to
the Union and the Constitution, and it
is not democracy to abandon them now,
when they are assailed by armed rebel
lion on one side, and by a total disre-
gard of the dominant party. If States
rebel against the Union, put down the
rebellion by all the constitutional means
and force of the nation. If the author
tiles violate the constitution, turn them
out by all the constitutional means and
force of the popular will through the
ballot box. That, it seems to us, is
democracy. 1t is the position of Ken
tucky, and it is correct and glorious.
What other course is there to pursue
Is it Democracy to abandon the protect
ing shield of the constitution, as the
Republicans have done, and rely upon
force There is superior force
against it, and the inquiry what is
democracy?" need not then be made,
for it would then be the bayonet.
We have heretofore shown that the
platform of the successful party in Ken
tucky, was essentially the same as that
of the democratic party in California.
The Express published the Kentucky
platform prior to our late election, and
pronounced it all right. (Will the Ex-
press refer to its files and correct us if
wrong, as We speak from memory ,
Why then should the defeat of the
Wickliffe party in Kentucky, trout lie
the democracy! Wickliffe was running
upon platform that, contingently at
least, was against furnishing another
man or another dollar" for the prose-
cution of the war against the rebellion.
What have the Democracy to do with
such position as that! Shall they
abandon the Union because the rebel
and republican parties have done so !!
Reverse the present position of affairs,
and place the republicans instead of the
rebels in armed rebellion, and would the
Express refuse another man or dollar to
prevent them from destroying the IN
ion? Democracy is a principle, not