St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-03-11
BACK TO FIRST PRINCIPLES.

That wise remark of Herbert
Spencer that "the American nation
must go backward before it can go
forward has many applications. 1t
is as true today Of the Democratic
party as it is of the nation. Since
the war it has been wandering in
strange paths foreign to Democracy.
Commanded by the people to resume
it's traditional course, it has foun-
dered about, unable to find and re-
sumo it's traditional course. 1t is a
fashion among the orthodox to lift
I'D Jackson as the ideal Democrat,
and it is treason in the minds OF
many to even hint that any but Old
Hickory, save possibly Jefferson, is
the ideal of Democracy.
If being a Democrat consists in
having a clear view of Democratic
principles and policies, and in adj
herring to them with answering
firmneSs, then an impartial judg-
ment will award to the much ma
Hgned Martin Van Buren, a higher
station in the ranks of Democracy
than even Jackson'S. In none of the
state papers of Jackson will one find
so clear-cut, exact and accurate a
definition of the federal government,
and, in fact, of state governments,
as in the message of Van Buren, to
the extra session of congress called
by him to devise means to carry
the treasury over the panic of 81,
which broke upon him before he
was fairly warm in the presidential
chair.
He reminded those who look to the
government for relief from the en-
barrassment caused by the panic
that they lost sight of the purpose
for which governments are created.
Said he: cit was established to give
security to us all in our lawful and
honorable pursuits under the lasting
safeguard of republican institutions.
1t was not intended to confer espe-
cial favors upon individuals, or on
any classes of them; to create syS-
TENS of agriculture, manufacture or
trade, or to engage in them, either
separately or in connection with in
mUnities are apt to look to govern
ments for too much. We are prone
to do SO especially at periods of
sudden embarrassments and dis
tress. The less government inter-
feres with private pursuits the bet
ter for the general prosperity 1t
is not its object to make men rich,
or to repair, by direct grants of
money or legislation in favor of par
ticular pursuits, losses not incurred
in the public service"
1t is to this conception of govern
ment thus clearly defined by Van
Buren, that the Democratic party
must go back and begin it's forward
march. 1t must declare this en-
phatically and distinctly If any in
dustrieS in this country have grown
to be dependent upon government
Sustenance they must be notified In
advance that, if the party is returned
to power, its sustaining hand will be
totally withdrawn. There must be
no nambypambyism of concession and
compromise and tenderness, but. 60
ing back to it's primal principles of
government, it must write them
plainly on its standard and go again
to the people declaring them, ad-
Vocating them; and, when again re-
stored to power-as it always has
been and always will be when it is
truly Democratic-see that no trait
or hand tears down the banner, and
no traitors counsel is received at
the board. This is the path to vic
tory, and a sure one, even if it be
temporarily severe and rugged one.
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