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The American Whig Review 1845 The cardinal principles, indeed, of [the Democratic party] are reduced to these two: regular nominations and that to the victors belong the spoils of the enemy [referring to the "spoils system," popularized by Andrew Jackson, in which the party in power rotated appointees to political offices in order to give each patron of the party a share of the "spoils" of victory.] All measures of a positive kind, having in view the substantial interests of the country, are constantly avoided; because on such grounds, it is seen, the harmony of the combination would be constantly endangered. There is something in positive measures which requires discussion, and discussion produces thought, and thought leads to inquiry: but the Democracy must not think. Hence the conduct of this faction, while it boasts so much of principle and censures its antagonists because like independent men they sometimes differ among themselves, has been ever negative and destructive. It has opposed the protection of the national industry; it has destroyed the national currency; it denies to the central government all legitimate and healthy powers, while it has enormously increased its corrupt patronage, thus tending ever to make it strong for evil and impotent for good. It has always looked with an evil eye upon the national judiciary, because it has instinct, if not intelligence enough, to discern that there can be no friendship between itself and the spirit of constitutional law. It has found its very vital aliment in sowing dissensions between different classes of the community. It has endeavored to set the farmer against the manufacturer, the merchant against both. By its stupid cry of aristocracy, it has sought to engender the most unnatural war between those natural allies, the poor and the rich; and by its senseless babble about Democracy and Federalism, has aimed to raise up a fiercer party strife than has ever been known in the annals of our nation. What the people of this country now desire and need above all things is stability in the government….The ruinous measures [of the Democrats, beginning with Jackson] which we have noticed could not long keep [Americans] in despair; and it was proof of attachment to their institutions, not surpassed in the history of any people, that during all these times, while the whole weight of the federal government [under the Democrats] was interposed to check prosperity and enterprise, full obedience was rendered to the laws. [Americans] trusted to their own future action at the polls to remedy the existing evils…. A Whig Congress has given the country a protective tariff. Under its operation the national revenues have increased beyond the hopes of the most sanguine: industry has revived; workshops have been opened that had long been closed; and a new impulse has been given to all branches of enterprise…. The conservative part of the Union [the Whigs] are committed in favor of the protective policy [i.e., high protective tariffs], on the high ground of principle…The Whig party are also in favor of a wise and beneficent system of internal improvement. That whatever is national in character, or is evidently conducive to the common good, should be done at the common expense by the federal government, would seem to be the dictate of good sense and sound policy. The early and earnest action of the government on this subject, is conclusive evidence that the sages and patriots to whom we are indebted for our freedom and our constitution did not entertain such narrow views of the duties and powers of the general government as the modern [Democratic party] has adopted. But it is remembered that destructiveness is an element in the character of that party; they talk ever of progress, but it is not progression for good. |