The New York herald., 1871-12-24
Gsing Back to q Past Age for Modern
Ideas-Jenersou Redivtvus.


J Ideas-Jenerson Redivivus.
The "Duty of the Democracy" is defined by
Fhe Reading Pa.) Eagle in long three-col-
nmn editorial, in reply to the Harrisburg
F'dsriot, paper that advocates the fusion or
passive policy. Says the Eagle -
Z All that Is necessary for the democracy to insure
ultimate ana speedy success 10 Keep clear 81
keekers, stand up for tne rights Of the working
classes, boldly strlKe At the wrong and outrage OF
uny realize and come back TO ITS historic mission
tas pointed out BY tho Sage OF Monticello.
II tho ''Ssge of Monticello" could awake
from his tomb and look upon the wonders of
the present age, - developed in this country,
NO doubt he would be too much amazed to
fhink Of turning the tide Of the nations
progress back to the period when he was the
high priest In the democratic tabernacle.
Suppose We briefly trace a few OF the things
that would startle the author Of the Declara-
hon Of Independence should his eyes be sud-
henly opened7 For example, then, SEQ him
IN endeavoring to get out Of the way Of . rail
road locomotive, dashing along at tremendous
Spesd, encountering an electric telegraph shock
that would make him realize the fact that
there are actually such things as "thoughts
that breathe and words that burn" And,
now, to save himself from general combustion,
be might seek the shores Of his favorite
pames River, and there, to his horror,
De would find that the course of
ths stream had been changed by some
kacrilegious heather, and his mouth would
Eape with wonder when he learned that
hll this had been wrought by digging what
4e would learn with indignation was known
Ss ''Ben Buffers Dutch Gap Canal" II this
should not completely extinguish him he
might take trip to Washington, look at the
Capitol, glance at the lobbies. learn that his
descendants had accumulated q snug little
hundred millions, run the annual expenses of
the government up to three hundred millions;
fnd that corruption was fostering every
where; learn, with disgust that the Washing
ton Monument Gin laying the corner stone of
(which he might have had handy was not half
Finished; ascertain that the population Of the
patton had increased from three to thirty
millions, and the number Of States from thir-
feen to thirty-seven learn that there had
been ''little misunderstanding" between the
North and his own sunny South, by which
0early million men had lost their lives; dis
power that the democracy had not been in power
FOR three consecutive Presidential terms; and,
IF ell these revolutions would not overwhelm
him, he could come to New York, take his
pld seat among the sachems Of Tammany Hail.
call the roll Of honor. and when the responses
came, discover that many of the once great
rhiefs had sadly departed from the ways Of
fectitude and virtue, and that he himself was
Feft alone in his glory amid the ruins and the
vreck Of the once grand old Wigwam. If,
after all this, he would not be ready to chant
fhe lament,
\ On. carry me back to Old viroinny.
be might 60 over to Pennsylvania and en-
Tighten the democratic fossils there upon the
wonderful things that are going on around
khem and admonish them that if they would
have the democracy ''still live" they must
keep step to the progressive march of the age
hnd let the bones of such patriarchs of the
party as himself rest in peace for evermore.