Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-10-29

NiNor and prosperity, we cannot hul
he impressed with profound respect
and admiration IL A. VI genuine
patriotic sentiment and sound polio,
bad been crystalizcd into an impcr
ishable form tor the preservation oflib.
orty and the salvation Of the republic
Whilst the government was yet in
Il infancy the Democratic party was
found As " they saw with the eve
of prescience that time was coming
when powerful champion, armed at
all points with conservatism, truth
, and patriotism, would be needed for
the preservation Of constitutional gov.
crnment and free institutions. Jeiier-
son and bis compatriots sharply aud
clearly defined those great and iunda-
mental principles which constitute the
Democratic faith.
In that day all American citizens,
or nearly all, were true men, and were
earnest in the desire that the govern.
ment of the United States might prove
a perfect success for popular freedom.
But as human Judgment, like all things
mundane, is fallible, there were those
in the days of Jefferson who contended
for latitudinnrian construction Of the
terms of the organic compact by which
the States were formed into Federal
Union They did not forsee the evils
that might arise from their theory
but, thank Heaven, Thomas Jefferson
did. 1t was no want of patriotism on
the part Of bis opponents, but IL was
their error oi Jnueheut, tlint 1i,v} merv
conscious or n" wrong in departing
from the strict letter of the COnstitu-
tion. Happy, then, vas it for us, for
the government, and for the cause of
liberty, that, as if with the inspiration
of patriotic seer, Thomas Jefferson
perceived the necessity of the Demo
cratic party, and Of establishing test
by which the lines of demarkation
might be docisively drawn between
its members and those of other par
ties. Jefferson has been called the
father of the Democratic party. He
deserves the title, proud though it is,
and more honorable by far than any
was the distinguished merit Of giving
distinct form and outline TO the true
republican theory; and, in short, he il
was who, more than all others, con-
tribuled to the perpetuity of free in
stitutions.
Since the time to which we refer tho
Democratic party has existed, and it
is today, in principle, precisely what
1t was in the beginning. The Consti.
tuition forms its basis, and a strict con-
struction of that instrument the essen
tial characteristic of its creed. There
are multitudes Of men now in full affili-
alton with the party and thoroughly
indorsing its tenets, who have only
come Of late years to appreciate the
beauty and correctness of its princi-
pies. In the days Of the country's
peaceful prosperity, when the great
parties into which the nation was
divided We'd with each other in the
effort to advance the happiness of tho
people and the welfare of the nation,
il was natural enough that all good
anu bIuc ulcu HuOuiu uOl Dt lDuuQ
enlisted under the Democratic banner,
but now, when fanaticism and the lust
of power have brought the country to
such pass that the destruction Of
constitutional government is n fore
gone conclusion unless strict Demo
cratic principle be adhered to, the case
is altogether different. Therefore we
behold veteran Wings, who in the past
warred upon Democratic organization,
now yielding TO none in their zeal for
Democracy. They see that it the
Democratic theory had been adhered
TO the unhappy war which but lately
filled the land with desolation and woe
could never have occurred. They un-
derstand now that il strict construc-
ton and close observance of the Con.
stitution had prevailed, no way could
have been left open for the insiduous
attacks OF the toes of our old govern
mental system. They comprehend
clearly enough now, in short, that the
Radical traitors and demagogues could
never, under such circumstances, have
brought about tho trials aud snfferings
of the last seven years, the evils of the
present, and the still greater perils
that menace us in the future. Thus
seeing, understanding. and believing,
none are more ready than they to ad-
nit that the Democratic party was
always right, and the theory forming
the basis of its principles the only safe
one--the ones upon the enforcement
of which depend free institutions and
the preservation of constitutional lib
erty. Nothing can be more certain
than that Henry Clay, Daniel Web
ster, and other renowned and patriotic
leaders of the Whig party that might
be mentioned, if they had lived in
these evil days, would have been Dem
ocrats. The great mistake of these
great statesmen was that they attach
ed too little Importance TO that strict.
ness Unconstitutional observance which
Democrats insisted upon as a guiding
principle.
We have said that the period of tho
existence of the Democratic party,
taken in connection with its present
vigor, fills the mind with respect and
admiration. While other parties, like
tho tiny sprites Of the Persian legion,
have danced in the light of the sun for
II day, and then closed their ephemeral
existence forever, Democracy has held
its stately march through nearly all
the years of our national existence,
and seems only destined 10 die when
tho republic shall cease to exist II
camo in with Jefferson Il grew and
lourished with Jackson; il was pow
eriul in the time of Van Buren,, Polk,
Pierce and Buchanan and now, more
formidable in its strength than ever,
il stands upon the threshold of Sew
mour's administration. For season.
indeed, in these later years, the giant
was shorn of its strength, and then
the nation became sick unto death
fnfs tho liz, af franI,s,. 4. l.....l