The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-31
A Just description of Democracy.


led or driven by master. Nor is it q
church with q stereotyped creed, to
which its members must a1here on pain
of accommodation. Nevertheless,
though its composition is more or less
affected by adventitious circumstances,
yet in the large and comprehensive view
it is formed and guided by natural,
philosophical and historical causes, and
is capable of being exhibited in suffi-
ciently ineligible and definite manner.
The Democratic party has now existed
nearly century. Its founder, its histo-
~, and the social and political causes
that give occasion for its existence, are
well known. We have, then, the means |
of determining its character and general
purpose in American politics. In the |
light, then, of these facts and causes.
what is the Just and proper description |
of the Democratic party?
/. 1t is the defender of the political
rights of the MANY. 1t is the enemy. of
aristocracy. Its founder was the author.
of those immortal sentences OF the
Declaration of independence, sAll men
are created equal" and Governments
derive their just powers from the con-
sent of the governed;" the logical Sc
guence from which is that all men have
right to share of political power.
You will therefore naturally expect that
party having such O founder will be
inclined to favor the largest possible
expansion of the basis of suffrage, and
to dislike all restrictions on account of
the want of property or culture, as well
as on account of National origin, race
or complexion You will naturally ex-
pect it to be the protector of the poor
and the lowly, and that it will stretch
forth its hands to raise up the down.
trodden. You will naturally expect it
to insist upon free ballot and fair
count. Both National and State laws
having this object in view (and there is
Constitutional authority for both), will
naturally find watchful guardian in a
party whose founder inculcated ga
| jealous care of the right of election by
| the people," Such, On the whole, is
the character of the Democratic party;
| while its political rival has always been
prone TO favor invidious distinction on
account of National origin, pecuniary
condition and educational advantages.
Often has it stified the political inde-
pendence of the poor by intimidation or
overcome their political integrity by the
arts of bribery and corruption.
2 The Democratic party is the guard
| ian of the financial and material inter
| ests of the laboring class. 1t knows
that their prosperity and improvement
has much to do with their political in
| dependence. 1t has always contended
for ECONOMY in the public expense,
that labor may be lightly burdcned."
Its general financial policy has always
had the same beneticent tendency. 1t
has been the friend of sound currency.
1t has advocated q tariff stripped of all
faVoritism to capital at the expense of
labor. 1t has favored free competition,
discouraged monopolies, and restrained
overgrown corporations. 1t has en-
couraged foreign commerce, and fos-
tered the growth of our merchant ma
rine. Following in the steps of its
founder. il has sought to divide and re-
strain the banking. and money interest,
and to prevent its dangerous consolida-
ton under the authority and patronage
of the National Government In all
this it is in marked contrast with the
Republican party, which has been the
persistent friend of legal-tender paper
money, and National Banks, and whose
administration has been darkened by
extravaganza and corruption. Let re-
formers take notice that in every effect
ual movement to be made for the sup
preston of monopolists and the regula-
ton and control of overgrown corpora
tions, the Democrats will lead the van.
8. The Democratic party is the cham
pion of the constitutional rights of indi-
vidua!s. With its great founder, il re.
CARDS freedom of religion, freedom oi
the press, freedom of speech, freedom
of person under the protection of habeas
corpus, and trial by ju:ies impartiallJ
selected, as among the essential princi
|, Piles of our Government The bills o.
rights Incorporated in the National anC
/ State Constitutions, have ever been it:
peculiar care. Had 1T not been for the
master spirits Of that party, the N.tiona
Constitution would not have contained
, , any bill of rights. In the Administra
tions of John Adams and Abraham Lin
coin, the constitutional rights of citizens
found in the Democratic party an earnes
and effective defender. Throughout ou
history, there has been found this char
f acteristic difference between the tw,
: parties. One has been the advocate o
arbitrary legislation and arbit ary ar
i rests and imprisonments, and the othe
e has been their unreienting foe.
g 4. The Democratic partyis the guard
ian of the self-government of the State
=. and of local communities. 1t guard
. with jealous care the political bounda
> ries and landmarks of the Federal Con
stitution. AS Jefferson expressed il
the party favors 1.-The support of tn
g State Governments in all their rights
as the most competent administration
d for our domestic affairs, and the sures
n bulwarks against anti-republican ter
l. dencies" The States are mighty pc
+ litical fortresses of civil and politics
J. liberty. The sympathies of the part
10 are not confined to the self-governmer
\. of the States, but embrace that of town
and cities under State laws and const
tutions. Here again we find a strikin
II contrast between the two parties; for th
d Republican party has q perpetual hanl
a. ering to usurp the functions of State
and municipalities, now claiming Stat
h powers for the Nation, and again CLAIM
k ing municipal powers for the States
ly which they happen to have control. L
reconstruction policy. will ever /
II. remembered as a gigantic crime again
-. our American system of governmen
~ Its legal-tender paper money, and i
- National Banks, belong to the same ca
egory of criminal usurpation.
n 5. The Democratic party is loyal
n Jne Union un(leT inc auilOflty VI u
n National Constitution. 1t cordially re
Il ognizes the Constitution as 1.-THE s
r preme law of the land" With Jeffe
j. son, it is uualterably in favor of 50 Il
: preservation of the General Governme
q in its whole constitutional vigor, as tt
= sheet-anchor Of our peace ut home al
!. safety abroad" A cardinal object
~ the Constitution having been to " secu
the blessings of liberty to ourselves al
our posterity," nothing can be mo
l. natural or suitable than that the Dem
l, cratic party should be the earnest
d fender of its authority. The opponen
,r of the Democracy sustain the Constit
Q tion when it answers their party pu
10 poses. When it suited those purpos
l. to nullify a perfectly constitutional la
,r they did not stick at doing it. VIII
NJ Democrats were pleading in behalf
measures suited to save the Union wit
out bloodshed. they scoffed at them
at "Union Savers" and their leaders we
m willing to "let the Union slide'' rath