The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-12-11
The Secret OF Democratic Vitality.

papcrs-mainly, however, OF the rural
persuasion-are predicting the early
dissolution end final wiping out OF inc
Democratic party. AS this prca'c'lon
has been put forth at various times ana
with various degrees of emphasis an
assurance for the past twenty years. II
may be regarded as somewhat stale
and therefore it is, we presume. thtt
none of the more influential Repub.
lican organs indul &c in 4 repetition OF
what has been SO repeatedly falslfiad
by the facts. loft doomed to dea II,
vet fated not to de-" can be said more
truly of the Democratic party than OF
any other political organization the
country has ever seen, or is likely to
see. 4 vitality which has survived
such internal disruption rs that OF
1860, such elements Of decentralization
as those that prevailed during the war;
six successive Presidential defeats, IN
GLIDING the Presidential fraud. which
was worse than dcfcat-may be con:
sidercd practically inyulnerable. II
we add to all these external trials inc
seyerer one of the knavcs and fools who
have used and abused the party tor
their own purposes-thc false friends
infinitely more dangerous than the
most powerful and vlndictive enemies
Democratic lite becomes little short
of a miracle, and it is difficult to
imagine any combination of circ''m'
stances which will suspend the miracle.
To those who study politics from
what may be termed the philosophical
standpoint, the secret Of this uncon'
querable vitality is easily discovered.
the bedrock upon which the Demo-
cratic party rests existed long before
the Federal Constitution was framed OF
even National independence achieved.
1t was in the mind Of Thomas Jefferson
and other apostles of human liberty IN
Europe as well as America, while I'm.
gland and her colonies were Still unltea
in apparently indissoluble bonds ana
when popular government was yet only
q bright and seemingly unrcalizable
dream. This bedrock is simply the
rights, power and wisdom Of the people
I in their broadcst and best sense. Lin
3 coin, though he went-unwillingly.. We
beIieve-widely astray in practice
enunciated the Democratic theory Will
absolute correctness in the famous
sentence, ga Government Of the pee,
II pie, by the people, and forthe people:
D This is Jeffersonian Democracy OF tht
y, straightcst and purcst sort. The iham'
~ tonian Federalism-which MIR. GarI'el'
" so much admires and his party ha
" virtually adopted--is Government Q
a. radically different character. 1t IS
lie "strong Government the strengt
4. coming from those ccntraliz'n
st tendencies which invariably an
o. inevitably diminish and at las
~ absorb the rights and power q
70 the people. 1t is = "splcndid Govern
Dc ment;" the splendor being ut the o.
pense of the peoples pocket. ana II
is tended to blind their eyes to the gratl!''
Iy loss of their liberties-a loss for wn'c
In there is no remedy save revolution
Us In q Republic, therefore. there mu'
w. =. always be Democratic party; that
he party which represents the Jehe
'er sonaian theory Of government as o.
posed to the Hamiltonian. When u
ar Democratic party dies, the Republ
he will have ceased to exist. The nan
I'D ..Democratic" is nothing. and anoth'
Of might be substituted whenever deslr'
10 BILE. The Democratic party OF Jefte
al. SONS dav was called ''Republican.
AL Rut tho nr;ncinles are everything. ar
mt when these are abandoned pupul;
government will be in its coffin. II u
present Democratic party were to al
HE band, as did its gallant rival the VIII
within six months it would have su
T. cessor embodying, no matter how m'l
req disguised. the same essential anu lnhu
str mental ideas. And while Democrat
NC, r'. policy NAV be this, that, or the otil
min thing and is occasionally someth'
+ria. the reverse of Democratic-thc princil
IA; is immutable and immortal; 1.-THE Sal
hah Yesterday, to-day and forever.
TO- 1t is easy. therefore, for the dullest
our Republican friends to see Il
pain though they have beaten the Democra
, 'os. candidate for the Presidency for
n"t sixth successive time Gncluding
fraud) they are no nearer destroy!
tile, the Democratic party than when r
~ mont was nominated. They have me
Aus " thrown down the 1nd:a-rnbber
sl:,' again. and may now watch it bouI
's's; once more--as it has bounced n
o .u: times in the last eighty years. l
,Seu "bouncingness," if VIC may coin
''"A' word. is illustrated in the invinci
reat good-nature with which Democl
ZOO; have borne their lates; defeat. i
,ary, are not sour and sullen as were kep
1885, licans after the Maine surprise.
Italy, show none of that Republican ST
tries. which Grant manifested (beforc India
y nus when he said, in substance. tina
!. ..o.+ event of Democratic victory the NJ
2 IA: would watch Congress and the new
yary, ministration jealousy, and II they p"
!, $50; wrong (that Is, not to suit Republic:
coun- "wo1ld rise up and put a stop to
nited The Democracy, sadly disappointed
m ~ deed, but not in the least d'shearteI
contemplate the future with pei
complacency; able to stand anyt
Office WV 80 VI =. -. ~ ,,oor,o will os 81,
people Knowing 'u". Wv r r +lom nm ,
trav' sOoncl VI i"'oA ~,'~ w Ae:.,:,.
aiming bedrock prlhclp'e ~ VIZ "Ss'
d the flows to the sea. NepuplcauS "0
mail pelled to be always looking roun'
After ..an ISSUE" Democrats have u
Letter olwovs at hand. an issue as old q
few Grst down nj nOnna ar government,
10 go destined to last as long US q vests
!, ~ trace s.rs popular government fingers upot
writer earth.-Os' A|''''' '''P''''
Overed $50 -
out Of why do the Republicans gre
merely feverish over the prospect Of Sc
be was a., ;ro,oet hv Cnnvress into the