Democratic Party principles and platforms of 19th century(official text)

books.google.com...

DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

A large majority of the people of this State, and of the United States, have always been Democratic Republicans. if they have at any time momentarily given their confidence to men of other principles, it was because they were induced by professions, in which they placed confidence, to believe that in doing so, they were best promoting the cause of real Democracy; but no sooner has the delusion passed away, than they have returned to the political standard which they appeared to have abandoned.

It cannot be otherwise. The mass of our people are intelligent and virtuous. They ask only for an honest Government - a Government controlled by an honest people which truly represents their wishes and their will. True Democracy is nothing more nor less than honesty in politics. It asks nothing which belongs to another, and concedes every one his right. It looks upon men as equals, entitled to an equal influence in public affairs, and to equal protection in their private walks.

(I added the paragraph split)

It looks upon government, not as designed to raise the few above the many, or to make some rich and others poor; but to give equal security to all in their rights of person and property and their lawful pursuits. It repudiates institutions and laws which give one man, or class of men, advantages over others, whilst it accords to all, the right to use for their own benefit, without injury to others, the mind and the strength with which the great Creator has endowed them.

(I added paragraph slip)

It holds sacred, and deems it one of the chief duties of Government to protect the property honestly acquired by the application of natural powers of man. It has not one code of morality for private, and another for public transactions; it would as soon commit a fraud in a bargain, as in an election; it would as soon take the property of its neighbor without consideration, as deprive a majority of the right to govern. In fine, the Democratic principle is perfect virtue and pure religions, "rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's," and "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you."

(I added paragraph split)

If it could be practised in its purity, it would "secure peace on earth, and good will towards men." Though sensible that the frailities of man bar him from present perfection in government, as in every thing else; yet, knowing that his race is capable of indefinite improvement, the true Democrat feels it his duty to strive towards it with unfaltering faith and unitiring zeal. This principle in the political, as in the moral world, has its ever acting antagonist.

Democratic campaign book: presidential election of 1896

books.google.com...

Platform of the Chicago Convention

We, the Democrats of the United States in National Convention assembled, do reaffirm our allegiance to those great essential principles of justice and liberty, upon which our institutions are founded, and which the Democratic Party has advocated from Jefferson's time to our own - freedom or speech, freedom of the press, freedom of conscience, the preservation of personal rights, the equality of all citizens before the law, and the faithful observance of constitutional limitations.

During all these years the Democratic Party has resisted the tendency of selfish interests to the centralization of governmental power, and steadfastly maintained the integrity of the dual scheme of government established by the founders of this Republic of republics. Under its guidings and teachings the great principle of local self-government has found its best expression in the maintenance of the rights of the States and in its assertion of the necessity of confining the General Government to the exercise of the powers granted by the Constitution of the United States.

The Constitution of the United States guarantess to every citizen the rights of civil and religious liberty. The Democratic Party has always been the exponent of political liberty and religious freedom, and it renews its obligations and reaffirms its devotion to these fundamental principles of the Constitution.

Democratic Platform 2010

The Democratic Party as seen above was the party that staunchly fought in favor of maximizing personal liberty and preserving the beliefs of Thomas Jefferson. This could be seen in their platforms and principles from the 1840 document to the 1896 document, they continously talked about individual liberty, self preservation, equal rights and making sure all people have the ability to rise or fall.

There was no talk about welfare and the poor, there was no talk about evil corporations, but there was talk about the evils of the Federal government, the evils of the Central Bank and the evils of treating people unequal. We must return to this attitude that was portrayed by the Democratic Party and its principles of the 19th century, befure the Progressive era changed all that.

I recognize the Democrats were also the party that was in favor of slavery and opposed equal rights, but at that time slaves weren't considered citizens and thus didn't have access to those rights. I know that is horribly wrong and we will never return to that, all people are equal regardless of religions, sex or ethnicity. But these principles still stand to this day.

How is this not interesting?

reply to post by Misoir


I find it interesting. S&F for the research!

reply to post by snusfanatic


Glad to see that, I really enjoyed learning about the old Democratic Party.

reply to post by Misoir


welfare is the modern face of slavery

welfare is not but being a slaves to the whims of a party politic with a future that is no better than any other day of the past........

a slave is a person that provides a good or service without getting paid for it yes they are actually getting some form of compensation but really what are they getting out of it and what are they giving in return for it something more powerful than a dollar the power and value of their vote to keep them in the place that they want to be in.

they are giving someone else the power of life and death over them they give them cash, they give them food they give them shelter they give them control over them and they do so willingly.

i guess you can call it willfully wantingly desire to have someone else to take care of them......

reply to post by neo96


I must agree, welfare is a form of slavery and definitely doesn't fit within the Capitalist system which is based around supply-demand. They are supplying nothing so they should recieve nothing.

Originally posted by Misoir
books.google.com...
We must return to this attitude that was portrayed by the Democratic Party and its principles of the 19th century, befure the Progressive era changed all that.

Yep, before those progressives came in and marched the party to freedom and liberty for all Americans. I understand why the Democrats lost much of the Southern and social conservative vote in the 60's and 70's, because at that time they really decided to march for liberty. It was inconvenient for the Democrats to march towards true liberty because apparently, apparently the rights and liberty of americans were a states issue?

The Democratic party of that time never gave a damn about true liberty and while you can argue that the Democrats have failed in bring forward true reform in the financial sector and through healthcare, atleast they did not sell their party soul to appeal to the anti-desegretion Southern vote in the 60's.

recognize the Democrats were also the party that was in favor of slavery and opposed equal rights, but at that time slaves weren't considered citizens and thus didn't have access to those rights.]

Oh yes right, so because black americans were not citizens at the time, that justified the actions of the Democrats during that era right? Nevermind the fact the Democrats opposed liberty of all americans at that time it was the norm so lets just push it aside and think just how wonderful the Democrats were back then.

The basic tenets of the democratic party, for most of the people who claim that affiliation, have not changed all that much from those of democrats from the late 1800s. The problem is that, much like the Republican party, the Democratic party has within its ranks a group that have a different set of core beliefs. The Republicans have their "neocons" and the Democrats have their "Progressives". In each case, the subgroup shares very little with the rest of the party as a whole, but quite a bit with each other.

Neoconservatives tend to identify themselves as "'evangelical christian", are more interested in social engineering than in government and believe that the best way to reach their goals is to have a larger, more invasive centralized government. You can thank this group for things like anti-gay marriage and "choose life" on neocons.

Progressives tend to do the same thing, but with slightly different aims. They focus on education reform that is anything but, expansion of government programs to "help the poor" while cutting programs that are designed to elevate those same poor into a more productive life and population control through free birth control and abortion on demand.

Now, you may have strong feelings about any or all of these subjects and that is only human. The one thing that every one of these "issues" have in common is that there is no provision in the constitution for any of them. Both sides seek to expand the federal government's power far beyond the original scope.

reply to post by Misoir


The problem is that today, BOTH parties have gone so far to the left of the 19th century Democratic platform its hard to figure out which is the party which represents the principals of our founders.


The Republicans claim to be that party but, the founders would surely frown on their military adventures abroad and the huge standing army we keep on hand. They aren't really that far from the D's when it comes to social welfare issues either.