Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-12-20

merry Christmas" and Happy New
Year" to all oSrspstrons and frisuds.
Is tEeDemOcrRaHc Party Dead
This iss questionsin which the interests
of every friend Of free representative goyA
erOmsnt iS involved In It is centersd ell
our hopes f0r the future and our security
Tor the preseEtf obs p sasssb aHG4t ha8g o.
We are aware that there are some weak.
minded persons who contend that .he Dem.
ocratic party bas ousgrown the necessity
for its existence ==that les mission has been
filed and there is no necessity for keeping
up its organization. .S
Now We wish it distinctly understood
that we are not on the list of oroakeFs who
believe there is nothing to be gained BY
keeping up the organisation of the Demo-
cratic party. The Democratic party is
founded on principles that cannot become
Obsolete. In this country it came into be
ing ON the frst formation Of parties under
our government. 1t has stood its ground
from that day to this, while it's opponents
have undergone uumsfous changes Of poli>
cy and names. 1t has outlived the old
Federal party, the National Republican
party, the aDti.masonic party, and its
present opponent is trying to sbufls of
the cognomes of Black Republics rarty
cod appear in a new body rs the so-called
Union party. Under ell these various
changes of the opposition. the Democratic
party never had occasion 20 change its
name or principles. Repeatedly has the
Democratic party been defeated in cleo
tions, but each time it arose again with
renewed strength aud vigOr, and trampled
over ell OppOsitiOn. And SO it will in the
future. h
At various periods in the history Of The
Democratic party, superficial thinkers have
oontended that there was no longer q ne
csssity for maintaining the organization of
the Democratic party. This was the case
especially Whsn the alien and ssdition
laws, the United States bank question, the
tariff question, the internal improvement
question. became obsolete.
Here we would remind our readers that
ell these questions, and others. that have
separated the Democratic party from lie
opponents ever since the formation of the
government, have been but the tests upon
which the contests have been maintained
between popular rights on the one side,
and thirst Of power on the other.
The one grand issue that has always di-
vidsd the two parties, is that of State
rights. Ever since the foundation of the
government the opposition party, under its
various names, has aimed to concentrate in
its hands more power than the constitu-
ton, with literal and true constitution,
confers. And it has been the mission Of
the Democratic party to resist and check
this tendency. The alien and sedition Law, ,
the national bank, a general system of in
ternal improvements. high tariff, and
other questions of difference between the
parties, have been opposed by tho DsmOc-
racy on the ground that they tended to ac-
cumulate and consolidate power into the
hands of the federal government. And
thus this contest between centralized pow
or on the one side and local popular liberty
on the other has existed ever since the
adoption of our national constitution.
And now that the dominant party and
Administration are lsboring 10 completely
ceDsralizs power, and to take it from the
States and people, it behucves Democrats
to stand firm by their principles. The
bold and startling assumption ia made that
the States are nothing and the General
Government everything, thus virtually de-
claring in favor Of g centralized despotism.
Against this dangerous beresy the DsmOc
racy must continue to present an unSroken
front.
To suppose that the Democratic party
has been used up in the late contest, be-
tokens shallow brain. Indeed the late
canvass is most encouraging evidence OF
its Htrength and vitality. 1t grapplsd with
an administration WELDING vast powers,
expanding treasures uneonnted. controlling
the service Of stipendiariss so innumerabls
and against all odds fought its fight thro'
70 the end, and won clear majority of the
people, excepting those only who have, az
of6ce.holders or dependents, direct pecu
mary interest in the continuance Of power
where 1t is nov.
The fact was never moro apparent thar
it is at the present moment that the Demo
cratic party has en- existenes. Thougt
the waves of usurped power and fedora
abuse of constitutional guarantees haIt
swept over il. it will come out of the storm
unscathed. Burdensome taxation, suffering
Wretchedness aud woe will come to tn,
dwellings Of the common people. and tbey
will arise in their might and shake of thr
Black Republican leprosy in due time
This Is es certain as that night follows day
Marx what We say.
H@A convention has been 10 session il
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