The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-02-01

had been prepared In secret. wss submitted
for ratification by the States, the Anti-Fed-
oralists, who then for tho FIRST time became
acquainted with It's provisions. were alarmed
at tho character OF tho now Government
which 1t proposed to establish. They per-
sisted In their opposition to Its ratification
by the States until no alternative was left TO
them but to accept 1t or else formally to dis
solve the Union.
One OF the most serious objections made to
the adoption Of the Constitution was tho
absence OF distinct Bill Of Rights, recog-
nlzlng % tho fundamental principle Of tho
Government tho equal right Of oil men to
life, liberty, and tho pursuit Of happiness"
At tho first session OF Congress the objeo-
lions to tho Constitution. which had been
pointed out before Its adoption. wore mould
cd into twelve articles, ton OF which, having
been ratified by tho States. were inoorpo-
rated as amendments Into that instrument.
After these amendments had become a part
OF the organic law Of tho republic the objec-
tlons OF the minority to 1t were entirely with
drawn. This fact In conjunction with tho
growing popularity Of tho Constitution,
prompted Mr.. JEFFERSON and his friends to
reject. as being no longer appropriate. tho
name OF Anti edorallst, and to adopt that OF
neutrality-suspicious. 1t WAS not long,
however. before this designation fell into
disuse, .slnce when tho party has been known
undor tho name OF Democratic alone. It Is
in It's essence tho party OF tho Constitution.
After struggling through period OF
twenty-five years In the opposition. the or
ganization which has continued to be known
as the Democracy, and has steadily and per-
slstently fought its political battles under
that name, has rcgainod tho control Of the
Executive branch Of tho Government. It's
function now is not to obstruct. but to plan
and perfect tho constantly accommodating leg
islation OF the country. Tho Initiative has
been transferred to its hands, and the quos-
ton that exceeds all others in political inter-
est is, In what spirit and under what political
conception will these new duties DO taken up
and fulfilled?
This question cannot be called unnecessary.
During the long interval in which the party
has not borne tho responsibility oi;positive
action. tho well-dofned doctrines OF Its
founders, through constant and overbearing
antagonlsm, have lost some of their cloar-
ness Of outline. and havo become less i'm
portant and fundamental Us political tenets
In tho minds OF somo who should now ap-
pear as their special advocates and repre-
sentatlves. 1t is beyond question that tho
Democratic party. rs 1t exists at present. is
somewhat tainted with ideas that In the boz
ginning OF tho Government would have
found their leading champion In ALEXANDER
HAMILTON. They arc not the ideas OF JET
PERSON. and would not be tolerated among
statesmen OF his school, Will they be anni-
hilatod at once and without disturbance In the
Democratic organization, or will they con-
tinus to exist until the element in which they
arc now visible shall be absorbed in the
broader views OF the party? That is q per-
tinont question. Tho success OF tho Dcmoc-
racy in the near future depends upon II.