The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-12-11

The Principles Of the EatAers'
AURORA, Dec. 9Th, 1884.
MR.. .EplTOR.-The Presidential elec-
ton of 1900 was the most important,
the grandest, the most sublime ever
held. In this land of elections that
one has no equal. No vote was ever
80 well understood by the voters. NO
yrande- subject was ever voted upon,
and no nobler people ever voted. NO
greater opportunity ever occurred In
human history, nor was ever better
improved. 1t WAS u single, solemn,
solid vote, combining in tune all the
voices of Bunker Hill and Yorktown.
of the Declaration and the Constitu-
ton, and its echoes. without diminu-
tion, reverated in every public act for
ID wears; and even then the destroyers
covered their designs by hypocritical
pretensions 10 the faith of the fathers
IA expressed in the first vote for JET
fersou. Those fathers then, lest they
should be misunderstood, and fearful
again that Tory istu and Hamiltonian-
ism might luriu another coalition
against the go. eIu ;siruts they had es-
tablish-d. III iau4 rtaErTsi their opinions,
and every four \ ears atterward, as long
as they lived, EXPRESSED their unbound.
ed faith aud devotion 10 Virginia anu
her statesmen.
John Adams was not ignorant, was
not corrupt, had obtained high renown
in the struggle for American lnde-
pendence, as much as Jefferson or any
other patriot. But he and his State
became "odiOus Through the mag
nanimity of Virginia only did his sou,
John Quincy, obtain an appointment
in the last cabinet of Monroe, in 1920
1t is not certain, however, but that
this was a grave mistake in the democ
racy. Anterior to 1900 there had been
radical differences between the most
prominent leaders of the movements
for independence from the mother
country. There had been also during
the war, a class, considerable for its
position and wealth, which always OPP
posed Independence. 1t was facile
union, after the war was over, between
this class and those who thought, in
the new civil arrangement, "t that the
rich and well-born should have per.
manent share in the government"
During Washington's two terms this
somewhat natural coalition was grad
ually forming. The Tories were fast
being forgiven by the soldiers, under
the promise of good behavior, and the
vigilance of the leaders was greatly
relaxed in feeling of general security.
1t was not until after John Adams,
in 1907, was seated in the Presidential
chair. that the enemies of democracy
took courage to begin the making over
and moulding the new system jus,
formed, into the English pattern
They were timid even then and sc
cautiously did they begin. that hat
the author of the Declaration not ther
been alive, it is possible there wculc
have been no one to sound the alarm
The courtly methods of the Presi
dent and the liveried servants of hi
officers of state were treated with du,
respect. But it was deemed necessar,
by the administration to secure then
entirely from unfriendly comment ant
criticism. Hence sedition law wa
obediently passed by either cunnin,
) or careless Congress. This law wa
thought to be nice and seemly thin
to have, until two editors were arrested
E fined and imprisoned for some strict
r ures they had published on the con
, duct of the administration. The nd
ministration, too, felt annoyed b
D those Frenchmen who had formed
d terrible dislike to royalty since thai
co operation with the colonial force
g at Yorktown. 1t therefore obtaine
h the passage of an Alien law, whic
{ PRONOUNCED it unwholesome for A mel
= = leans TO associate with FrencAmeI
y After this, Adams wrote to a frien
d that the opposition had become SO r.
duced in numbers as not To amount /
. a decent platoon.
This was like the letter sent hom
Z to Vienna by the Austrian genei.
y from the field of Marengo, at u yer
II deceptive crisis in the battle.
u Jefferson summoned Madison to h
Il side. The Legislatures of Virgini
q and Kentucky, then in session, recei,
= ed each set of resolutions declarin
d their understanding of the nature ,
s. the government they had recentl
!. foimed. and their opinions as to til
d effects aud purposes of the measure
enacted by the men then in powe
Those Legislatures passed them, o
, dered them sent to the Legislatures
the other States. Men left their sea-
Al in Congress to urge their passage an
h to arouse the thoughts of the peop
a for the first time to the study of the
U form of government.
The result was the vote of 1900. TIL
= Virginia and Kentucky Resolution
was the only thing on the banner
y y Traitors only have anything to 80
n against thst vote.
l. L have no room to follow the bal
ners furthee at this time.
,r Yours,