The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1893-01-28

was Henry Clay CT Kentucky and
though never elected to the Presi-
dency, he was master spirit III all
their movements during his long
public career, which place he occu-
pied by virtue Of his gigantic mental
power and extraordinary fore
thought. Long before abolition
ism was spoken of, gradual enamel
patton had been a hobby with him;
he clearly saw the shadows that CON-
ing events were casting before them
and publicly advocated his favorite
hobby. Soon after numerous Dem
ocrats and Wings fell away from
their party fealty, joining Freesoil
and other organizations that We're
springing up in every direction As a
pointer in political progress and
proof Of the radical changes that
take place in party views, we re-
member that in 1914 when the con-
test for the Presidency was fierce
and furious between Polk and Dali
las representing the Democracy, and
Clay and FreIinghuysen represent
ing the Wings, that nearly every
snsg above water in the Mississippi
river, and there were plenty of them
in those days, was labeled Polk and
Dallas. The Democracy in their
zeal for State sovereignty were Bit
terly opposed to any internal inn
provements whatever fearing gov
ernments interference in some way
or other with the rights of the States,
while the Wings favored internal
improvements of all kinds. The le-
suit of the election is a matter of
history, but the Democracy to-day
are as eager for internal improve
ments as the Wings were then.
These changes in party views are
brought about naturally by the
wonderful progress and expansion of
the country.
Another instance of change may
be cited. President jackson as the
representative of the Democracy in
1886, entered with all his fierce. en-
ergy into the ''Bank war; and did
not stop until the United States
Bank was no more. To-day United
States currency is the financial stand
ard of circulation and legal tender
for all sums due the government, land
the Democratic party is in full ac-
cord with the financial condition of
affairs. What a difference betwixt
now and then? And in that differ
ence, the Democratic party has
evinced its wisdom in adapting itself
to the unexpected and unforeseen
changes that have taken place with
out the sacrifice of single funda-
mental principle laid down in their
original platform.
The first outcropping Of American
aristocracy showed itself in the or
organization of the Know-nothlngs in
1S53-lts motto was 1.-The Americans
shall rule America, forgetting their
foreign birth parentage. 1t drew
largely from the Wings, lived spas
modic existence of three short years
and then passed away. This was
the first step in the direction of the
downfall of the hightoned, dignifed
and distinguished old party, that
soon after got lost in the moral mists
that arose from the Abolition success
and the defeat of Bell and Everett,
their candidates in 1860.
The Republican party that succeed
ed the old Wings enjoyed consecu-
lively twenty-four years possession
Of the Government by virtue of
sectional influences and military
power combined. Any allusion to
the causes which led up to that ano-
malous condition of things is entire
" unnecessary. There followed an
interval of four years during Mr..
Cleveland's Presidency, which was
laden down with mugwumpism; the
succeeding four years now drawing to
close, the White House has been oc-
cupied by President Harrison, and
Mr.. Cleveland will again take poses
sion Of the reins of government on
the fourth of March next as the rep
resentative of the advanced and pro-
IN Al. 4