The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-05-23
What is Your Political Faith P

DO YOU believe in equal and exact justicf
10 all men, of whatever state or persuasion
religious or politician
Do You believe in ''peace, commerce and
honest friendship, with all understanding
ling alliances with none?''
Do you believe in supporting Estate
governments in all their rights, as the most
competent administrations for our domestic
concerns and the surest bulwarks against
anti. Republican tendencies?'
Do you believe in ''the preservation OF the
General Government in its whole constitu-
tional yigor, as the sheet anchor Of our peace
at home and safety abroad p
Do you believe in ia jealous care of the
right of election by the people-a mild and
safe corrective of abuses, which are Topped
off by the sword of revolution where peace
able remedies ale unprovided?''
Do you believe in absolute acqniesence in
the decisions of the majority-the vital
principle of republics, from which there is no
appeal but to force, the vital principle and
Immediate parent of despotism ~
Do you believe in having ga well-disci-
plined militia-our best reliance in peace and
for the first moments Of war, till regulars
may relieve them 2
Do you believe in 1.-THE supremacy OF the
civil over the military authority
Do you believe in economy in the public
expense. that labor may be lightly burden
ed?r
Do you believe in ''the honest payment OF
our debts and sacred preservation OF the pub
lie faith?''
Do you biege in the encouragement oil
agriculture. and OF commerce as its hand
maid?''
Do YOU believe in ''the diffusion of knowl-
edge and the arraignment of all abuses at the
bar of public reason?''
Do you believe in the freedom of re-
ligion?'
Do YOU believe in the freedom of the
press?'
Do you believe in the freedom of person
under the protection of the habeas corpus?
Do you blieve in trial by juries imparti
ally selected p
If so, you are DEMOCRAT.
These principles, said Thomas Jefferson
the founder of the Democratic party, form
the bright constellation which has gone be
fore us, aud guided our steps through an age
of revolution and reformation. The wisdom
of our sages and the blood Of our heroes have
been devoted 10 their attainment. They
should be the creed Of our political faith-the
text of civil instruction-the touchstone by
which to try the services of those we trust.
These principles were summarized from the
constitution by jefferson and expressed IN
his FIRST inaugural address, in 1901. In the
early days of our republic there were no
parties. Toward the end of Washington 5
second term, a division of the people began,
and during Adams term it became complete.
Some believed in a strong, paternal govern
ment; others believed in the independently OF
States, and that powers that were not delegat-
ed to the Federal government, nor prohibited
by the constitution, were reserved to the
States. The latter were the most numerous,
and they elected jefferson TO the Presidency
in 1900. He pennfd the Declaration OF In
dependence and took large part in formu
laling the Constitution. No other could
better interpret either, and the summary
given above attracted large majority of the
people to his views of the objects and aims of
government.
Bead and study these principles, examine
yourself and see it. you are not Democrat,
and have been mislead by prejudice or asso-
citation into voting against the Democracy.
They are the principles that underlie the
government of the United States, the essence
of the Constitution, the creed of the Demo
cratic party