The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-12-13
The DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
An Illinois Statesman Finds a Lesson In
lis History.
HINTS FOR THE PEOPLE.

1
li,ical essay is addressed to the editor
of,hr Chicago Times, and Is said TO he
wrift"n lay lifelong Democrat of Ia
tiomui reputation:
As Democrat of the old school, and
of the stiictest sect, | venture, with
,uu, permission, t" present through
t,,y columns nf your widely circulating
AID eEiigitcniug public journal. a few
sun.rstions for the candid and iutelli-
,,ut consideration of my Democratic
t,ienGs. | desire to reason with them
in the shirt If truth AMI snhrrness,
upon gave matter of personal duty
and public interest. In so doing, !
sl,olI sneak fraHll, and freely, yet res
nertfuilv, seeking rather To convince
tlran to offend contrary opinions. Sea
s,nihlp an,l c"uttrou discussion en-
Moved to this eu,l Will, no doubt. lis it
ouoht to, receive il far aud nnprcju-
diced hearing. In this faith, proceed
fl the task | have undertaken, viz /:
First, 10 expose what | believe to be d,
hntsnl political delmsion; second, to
ipculcate what deem to be a saving
political Truth.
Tie history of The conrtry, in a GER
tain sense, may he reduced to three
principal acts:
IN. D.y.lrtipn
. The action of the Democratic
party.
3. The acton of the Republican
party.
The Revolution, in itself, was simply
political. eveltnating in tie National
Independence, and the Constitution OF
the United States enhrdying the iede-
1al fnYm Of government. This form oi
government was founded OH pre-eXist-
inc States retaining their municipal in
stitu.lous- slavery and slave property
being one ot them. This limitation
WAS enc Of the political necessities oi
the time. Without it, as an existing
fact understood, the Revolution could
not have been effected. Without it, us
fact to he needed, the Constitution
would not have been framed. With
out it, the act of nationality itself
would have been cancelled dis soon aS
accomplished. Indeed, in the circum-
stances, it WAS indispensable and una
voidabie.
The Democratic party, bern of the
revolutionary spirit, found itself bound
by this Limitation, and us the PARTY OF
strict construction, oheyed its authori-
ty in cuniutun with that of the whole
Constitution. They could not have
done otherwise, aud Yet have been
aihfnl TO their Inspirations and sense
of dnty. Hence, the political pro-
gra.nme marked out by them for exc
eutiotr o-xolasive of any intelter-
ep,e with the local institutions oil
slavery. They left that, us Il pre- eX
listing fact, to the operation uf opinin,
and circumstances, believing, as did
all the great men Of the day, that in
the lipenpss of tine it woull gradually
and peacefully pass away. In all 9th
81 respects, They gave themselves NJ
in tie most liberal spirit, to the wori
of refnm. renovation and reorgauiza
ton. They hecag'e the part, "t pro
sre>s, ard combining and directing
their ctfblts tu that rUd, developed ait
utiilllZc.! the traits n! the reyolHtinn t,
the tnilest extent compatible with til,
fundamental law. THIS was their mis-
sion The proofs at its ful!illmeut,
shall uOw proceed very briefly tn de
tail. hey placed Il cuib upon tie en-
croichM,uts Of power as essential t.
liberty aud lie equilibrium of the fed
eral system, 10y giving authority 30 Tn
rule al st,ict construction. Arnwin;
the wight nf sel:-eXpatriaiion. it strip
ped the President If an arbitrary an,
dangerous censorship over the motive
aHd cnndu of immigrants from for
eign lands, by repealim. the alien laws
and extended to trIci.ners the right
OF American citizenship upon JUST an,
liberal terms. 1t Witnessed It's dryo
ton to the freedom uf speech and q
the press. 10y repeating the s,ditiu
laws. 1t opposed mrorolies. and pm
an end to The arrogance, corruption
and exiS;orcr of the United State
Bank. Ii II claimed tie public revenn
from the custndy of irresponsible pri
vale corporations, and committed thrr
to the safe Keeping of sworn and res
pnns!ble officers oil law. 1t restore
gold and silver to lis inst pre- eminenc
IS an im:mUmuri;tl and Uni ,rrsal stan
dard of value. 1t husiautied the put
he treasure by putting an end Ia I'll
scheme Of diSsipating il as latg"s>t
among the States. 1t au>piciatcd su,
ccsstu!!y the pole. Of reducing til
price and granting the public lands !:
homeSteudS to settlers. 1t made til
first great step toward the realizaiio
of the doctrine of free trade by iiitii
ting the restriction of imports Ia III
legitimate ends of revenue and want