Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1859 — Examine, then Judge Te. [ARTICLE]

Examine, then Judge Te.

A man’s true character is formed, ami t.i ]be judtred of, more by wiiat he actually land actually does, than by anything or ail j things he pretends to be or do. Whether he Ibe a uood man or a bad, will be manifest from his acts and his works. “By their fruits, ye shall know them.” . This is the gauge by which every discreet man measures his fellows. Ami if men. as individuals, are to he tl.u - I judged,’it follows, as a necess-arv Imßc-il ] conclusion, that a combination of mm, should be subject to the same rule >t judgment, Parties are but combinationsol men, organized for a special common object, and their true character can be ascertained only by a knowledge of what they are, and what they have done. It is this rule of judgment, and this only, that we wish the people qf this country to observe in respect to the two great political parties, now contending for the mastery in this government. Let the Democratic party be judged by what it actually is, and by what it.has actually done, and not by what it pretends to be or to do, and how can any : man. who has a sincere desire to suye his country from disgrace, or to promote ami secure its general welfare, give his support to it, either by word or deed? What is that party! Look at the leaders of it, who control its rnoevm“nts, shape its policy, and profit by its success; who are they I Ambitious men. every one of them; profess,onal office-seekers, who. by false pretences, unscrupulous arts and unblushing corruption, seel; their own elevation, regardless of means or consequences. This js i he. character of the leaders, and their followers are either expectant of self-profit by their success, or blind and willing dupes to their schemes <>f cunning ami dtii iieity. This is a deplorable fact, but such it. is. as every discriminating man, who is informed on m.attm. of politic? and p irbes. the-e times, mast* know in 11 >. 1 1 .

Suili is th- Democr tic party—am] m..w what, has it ■ dorti■ \\ hat are i.is irn?-! It has .prelunded to espouse the cans.- of the people in iho territories, while cot;: :>ii ing openly and secretly 1o subpigM ■ the people to the will of a slave-holding oligarchy. It has prelend: d to be national, while doing all in its power to nggianilize one section of the country at the expense of the rights and interests of the other sect’on. It lias prete.ided an anxious regard for public economy, while running the nation into heavy indebtedness and hopeless bankruptcy, by its inexcusable evtravqgance ' and corrupt profligate practices. It has pretended a love for the Constitution, while doing all it could to degrade that sacred charter of Liberty into an instrument for-the benefitof Slavery. It lias pretended a great love for the Union, and lias done more than al! other parties and influences combined toward disturbing ami endangering the Union. It. has pretended to have a deep regard tor the poor man, and to desire the lievelopement ‘of our country's resources, while it has, by its Free Trade policy, played into the hands oi European capitalists and manufacturers, by encouragj ing the importation of goods and fabrics from ] abroad that our own obor men could manufacture as well here at home, ami lias conspired with the ’.and speculators to defeat the Homestead bill that proposed to give every poor man a free farm, if he chouse to settle upon and cultivate it. Indeed it has pretended to be in favor of almost every good, wise and patriotic measure, while in tact it has all the while been engaged in doing just the oposi c of its pretensions. Is this not true! Recall to mind the acts, the measures and accomplishments of the Democratic party for the last six or eight years, and an wer us nai/ if you can.

Now we w mid have the Republican party \ judged in the same way. What is it, and ] what has it done! It. proposes, first of all, to be opposed to the further extension of Slavery, and in favor of the protection and fostering ot the rights and principals of human f reedom, and never have any of its representatives in Congress or any where else failed to do all in their power to carry out this profession. It professes a regard for ’he faithful and economical administration | of the affairs of the nation and the States ] and we challenge any man to point out one instance where the Republicans are or have : been in power, in any of the Free States. East or West, where there has been extrav- i agunce in public expenditure, intentional ; mal-administration, or a lack of fidelity to ■ public trusts. It professes regard for popular righ's and the poor man’s interests; is there an instance where a Republican Congressman or other responsible representatutive of that party has proved recreant to his profession! And look at the character of the leading men ofthe Republican party — are they mere mousing politicians, who have nothing .in view but self-aggrandizement! 1 Are they bad men, unscrupulous of means | and corrupt in their pratices! Are they not, ■ rather, true, schollarly statesmen, full of an earnest love of liberal principals and a spirit of true progress! They are public men many of them; examine their records and view them in the light «.f a candid criticism, and then pass judgment. Bad men there may be—doubtless are, in‘ the Republican party, tis there are in all human associations, but they are not men of coutroling influence, nor trusted with important responsibilities. “Lobk on this picture, and then on this.” Judg ‘ ye fairly, honestly, with candor and in the light of knowledge, and tell us, oh ye who cling to the skirts of “Democracy” as if it were the only anchor of hope, whether you are not making a 'Teat mistake-and that

too with your eyes open and while in possession of a sane mind.— Chicago Journal.