The Rock Island Argus., 1882-03-18

its superabundant and ever-recurring en-
| thusiasm whether IN power or out OF
power, commands our sympathy and
makes us wish we could transfer some of
it to the party whose principles and his
tory have been q large part of the coun-
try's glory for the last twenty-five years.
This enthusiasm for party principles,
mentioned by the Inter Ocean, always has
been and always win be characteristic of
the democratic party. For twenty-five
years. out of power most of the time in q
hopeless minority. they have always re-
manned steadfast in their convictions and
enthusiastic in their adherence to them.
The republicans are fond of quoting them
selves as the party of progress and pro,
gressive they are although like snail,
backwards-and stating that the demo-
Gratis are men who never learn anything
never forget anything; their devotion to
the principles of Jefferson and Jackson are
ridiculcd as absurd and old fogyism is a
fit term of supposed application But the
time has now come when the doctrines of
jefferson and Jackson are needed to save
mostly precautionary and looked to the
future; the time was to come when they
would be necessary to secure and free
government; there was then ne pressing
danger of disruption or any impending
| threat to liberty but it was felt
that these dangers and threats
would arise and democratic principles
were instilled into mems hearts, that when
the time came, when greed for money and
! lust for power, when false ambitions aud
selfish interests, when lack of knowledge
and of honor should all arise and conspire
| against our freedom and our rights, then
| the grand old principles that had stood for
q hundred years should rise up and COM
mand them to stop. When this country
was small and scattered, thinly settled and
| strong only in honesty and patriotic re-
solves, then did Jefferson and his comrades
| look forward to the vast possibilities of
the future and say to the American peo
ple: if YOU desire freedom avoid centrali-
zatien; if you would live happily and
while robbing no man yourself be robbed
| by none, kill all monepoIies; If you would
preserve intact the liberties which your
fathers wrought out for you in hardship
and in blood, put not too much power in
one mans hands; ii you would have the
Union strong. strengthen the states and
not the federation; if you would acquire
strength, cultivate simplicity. Mon
of power to dazzle aud deceive: republic
should be plain. These principles were
originated when the republic was founded
and on their ascendency has depended ITS
continuance. Republicanism came in as
an episode and as such did not conflict
with them. That party was born in an
emergency and was given q special mis-
sion to fulfill That work was done and
after the reason for its existence ceased.
But the men who then composed its lead
ership We're not willing to abdicate. Con-
tinuance in power meant nothing to them
but an opportunity forpersonal aggrandiz-
ment; they had no great principles to advo
cate Had they accepted these democratic
pTInClpicS ana advocated tI6fu as the
means of preserving intact the rights guar
anteed to US by our fathers then they
could have asked for continuance in
power, but this meant a sacrifice of self
to the country's good and they were not
equal to it. There sole reason for de-
sire to remain in power is the spoils of Of |
fee that they will thus secure. But the |
principles of jefferson and jackson |
are of more pertinence to-day than ever;
the time has come when they must be re-
instated- or else loss of liberty ensue.
These principles have never died, they
have never been even asleep; and 10 the
democratic party is due the credit Of hav
ing been their faithful custodian for ten
years of even disgrace. They have been
handled down as precious heritage as
,he best gift an American could give his
children.