Advertisement. THIS WORK IS A COMPENDIUM of the leading principles announced by Democratic Presidents, Congressional Caucuses, and National Democratic Conventions during the past one hundred years; to which added of cardinal Democratic principles, as distinguished from those prevailing in Monarchical governments; together with a few chapters referring to measures of more recent public concern and present importance, explanatory of the positions held thereon by the American Democracy. ITS OBJECT IS to gather all these into the smallest possible compass, at the least cost, so that these sound Democratic principles of public policy may be within the reach of all. By thus summing up those adhered to during the past one hundred years, freighted with the experience of the best minds, of the most intelligent, considerate stalwart Democrats of a century, may thus more easily be transmitted to future generations, stamped by the experience of those gone before us, upon their recommendation and approval, as acknowledged principles of the American Democracy. earnest THE HOPE IS that the present generation may study them well, and thus preserve the unity, power, and influence of the great party in years to come; and to prevent its members from deserting the main column as it goes marching on through the ages, knowing what they believe in, and the reasons for their faith in them, and not go scouting, by detachments, after single measures, however plausible they may be presented, to be led into ambush, and captured by the general opponents; or by thus weakening the main column, betray their friends into defeat. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. cne The Democractic party in the United States has now been in existence as a political power, for about hundred years. Like many other things done, without much reflection at the time, the reasoning of Thomas Jefferson, and his labors to promulgate his views, have far outstripped his most sanguine expectations. The good he then did, cannot ever now be estimated, and future ages only will record the mighty results which his efforts inaugurated. It is not the design of the writer to attempt anything like a history of the party of which Jefferson is the acknowledged founder; space allotted would be utterly insufficient for that purpose; but it is only intended to group under appropriate heads. the principles which he and his compeers, successors and supporters avowed and promulgated, in as brief a space as possible; so that the young men of the present generation may in the briefest possible time, and in the cheapest possible manner, become more fully acquainted with them; and what is more to the purpose, that they may be guided by them, enforce them during their lives, and hand them down to future generations, unimpaired, that the blessings flowing from the exercise of those principles may exert their influence in the establishment and maintainance of free government down to the latest period of time. The writer claims no credit whatever, as the author of those principles. He regards himself simply as the instrument used in again recording and com |