American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-09-25

III lHe history ol the DeIHOcTatlc par
ty there have been two eras in which
the bold and vigorous assertion of its
distinctive principles has been the sal
walton of democratic republicanism in
this country. Those two epochs are
the proudest in our National annals.
No patriotic American can recall the
names of jefferson and Jackson, and
the events of their Administrations with
out a glow of honest pride. And nc
American who is not at heart a mon
archist, who is not in favor of such
Capitalization as invariably tends to the
one-man power, fails to pay the tribute
of sincere respect to those illustrious
Democrats and the great works which
they and their influence wrought.
Hated as they were in their times.
visited with unstinted abuse, deluged
with calumny to an extent unknown in
the latter half of this century, they
have nevertheless taken their rightful
places in history and in the respect of
their countrymen, No man now 9ues-
tons their ability. their integrity, their
patriotism; and there are very few who
do not concede that the ideas to which
they were devoted, the principles for
whose maintenance they breasted the
storm, were not essential to the MAIN
tenance of our institutions on the broad
and enduring basis of "the utmost in
dividual liberty consistent with the
highest general welfare"
jefferson, the founder of the Demo-
cratic party, and the men allied with
him, made bold and successful fight
against those monarchical principles,
which, under another name, came too
near mo!ding our Government into a
despotism. We get some idea of the
influence of Old World institutions, GUS
toms and habits on the American mind
a century ago, when we read that it
was seriously proposed in 1.-THE Con-
gress" to fasten on the President the
awe-inspiring title of His High Mighti-
ness.
And even in the Constitution of the
United States, after the confederate
system had proven failure and been
condemned. we still see too much of
that settled distrust of the people which
many OF the fathers entertained. o.
tensibly building the Government on
the right of the majority to rule, they
SO constructed that minority may law
fully prevent the majority from ruling
for a series of years, as has more than
once been demonstrated.
The veto power is another feature of
the anti-demOcratic, or monarchical
spirit. 1t is the one-man power in its
most offensive shape, and if we are not
prepared to admit that the majority
ought not to rue, this prerogative
should be SO modified that majority
in Congress may make laws DIES pite the
Executive.
The provisions for electing a Presi-
dent and Vice-President of the United
States still more forcibly illustrate the
then prevailing fear that the people
would go wrong and destroy the Gov
eminent if they had a chance. The
people were to select few very wise
and very good men who were to de-
eide, in their superior wisdom and vir-
tue, who should fill the two highest
offices in the Republic. 1t was not
deemed prudent to trust the common
people to select these officials. There
was to be an intermediate authority to
save the people from the danger of max
ing bad choice.
Not against the individual features of
or centralization--they are
same thing in effect but against its
spirit, Jefferson and his party rose up
to fight. They fought the good fight
and kept the faith. They indicated
manhood. They set up the rights of the
people. They struck down the grow
ng danger of the hour. They gave
The country a strong impetus in the
tight direction. They made splendid
history.
When that sturdy patriot, Andrew
came to the front our Gov
was being run, as the Repub-
lean party has run it, in the interest of
capital as against labor. There was
on every hand. The ruling
power in Congress, in the Cabinet and
n all the channels of Government was
One great financial institu-
ion was the. real controlling power.
Jackson, the bravest man of his age
md as pure a patriot as ever welded
power, struck down the giant that had
lsurped authority. In all his acts he
carried out the idea that this was
of the people, not of a
not the tool of CONSOLE
lated cash. He believed in the people.
or he was one of them. His Admins
ration is the pride of all men who are
'apable of approaching genuine
Democracy when inspired by the lofti-
st patriotism and nerved by the reso-
ution of a hero.
The condition of the country to- day |
alls for another era like those which |
We have noticed. Capitalization needs |
if our institutions are not |
o be radically and permanently chang
d. If the right of the people to
manage their local concerns is not to
re lost, not to become as extinct as the |
odo, the Democratic faith must be re-
sserted with Jefferson's directness and
igor.
And, if the country is not to be at
he mercy of corporations and bond
olders, if labor is 10 have any chance
gainst the eXactions of capital, if mo-
opolists are not to fatten on the spoils
f honest industry, we must have a re-
ssertion of the faith, and reproduc-
ION of the courage, of Jackson.
And, with the hour, the man has
ONE The Hancock era--the era to
'hich this patriot soldier and statesman
rill give his historic name-is to be a
ting successor to those of the two
lustrious Democrats whose Administra-
ons were the most brilliant in our
istory The election of Hancock will
anish the Internal bane of sectional
rife. 1t will unite the North and
outh in fraternal harmony. 1t will
end to the rear those corrupt and cor
lpting influences which have domi-
ated wherever the Radical spirit has
adj full sway. 1t will bring out new
sues on which there can be no sec
onal lines and no color line. 1t will
g the one thing needed to give us free
ON from all those bad influences that
lme as the result of the war. Peace
Id prosperity and a career of unex-
npled development and progress will
the conditions Of that hriUhter and |