Washington Telegraph

STARTLING DOCTRINES.

The following opinions about the ballot-box, and the sovereignty of the people are taken from the Democratic Review, a periodical which is regarded by the leaders of that party as a text book. Can any true republican relish such doctrines? Many a bitter pill has been swallowed under the name of Democracy, but who would rally under its modern banner after the following forcible illustration of its principles?—

Speaking of the election of 1840 the Review says:

"What happened then may happen again, if not in the same form, in some other form, equally foolish, and equally pernicious, and, therefore, if we wish to secure to ourselves and our posterity, the blessings of freedom and good government, we must procure stronger guaranties than popular suffrage and popular virtues and intelligence!!"

On page 375 we find the following words:

"There is not a tithe of that virtue in the ballot box which we, in our Fourth of July Orations and Caucus Speeches, are in the habit of ascribing to it. The virtue we have been accustomed to ascribe to it, we have claimed for it on the ground that the people always know what is right, and will always act up to their knowledge. That is to say, suffrage rests for its basis as a guaranty of freedom and good government, on the assumed intelligence and virtue of the people. Its grand maxim is, 'the people can do no wrong.'

Now, this may be very beautiful in theory but when we come to practice, this virtue and intelligence of the people is all a HUMBUG! We beg pardon of the sovereign people, for the treasonable speech, but it is true as holy writ, and there is neither wisdom nor virtue in pretending to the contrary!"

From pages 380 and 382 we make the following extracts:

"We have heard so much said about the wisdom and intelligence of the people, that we perhaps are a little sore upon the subject. But we have seen enough to satisfy us that if we mean by Democracy the form of Government that rests for its wisdom and justice on the intelligence and virtue of the people alone, it is a GREAT HUMBUG!

The acts we have brought forward prove it so. Nay more, that in destroying all guaranties, and in relying solely on the wisdom and virtue of the people, we are destroying the very condition of good government.

Are the people competent to govern themselves? What we have said concerning the virtue and intelligence of the people, has been said for the express purpose of proving that they are not competent to govern themselves!

We must tell them this notion of theirs about self-government, is all moonshine! nay a very Jack-o'-lantern, and can serve no better purpose, if followed, than to lead them to the high road and plunge them in the mire or the swamp from which to extricate themselves will be no easy matter."

Again from page 383.

"If the people are to be governed at all, there must be a power distinct from them and ABOVE them, sufficient to GOVERN them!!!"

Compare this with the Democratic doctrines about the sovereignty of the people at the time Gen. Jackson was elected.—Then the people were every thing, and it was treason to doubt the justice of their voice. But when the people go for Gen. Harrison, how changed is the cry! They are considered at once void of intelligence and incapable of self-government!! It is evident from this that the leaders of Democracy consider the people's will, expressed through the ballot-box entitled to consideration only when it is subservient to their purposes, and when they cannot wield it to their notion, their respect and confidence are destroyed. Will any Democrat tell us the difference between this spirit and absolute despotism?