Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol

Democracy Is At Stake(The photograph was produced by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert Price and provided courtesy of the United States Navy, June 4, 2017.)

News media reports have been repeating a mantra that our democracy is threatened. That American democracy is at stake. That we have never faced such a situation.

Consider the following items from newspapers during the past century-and-a-half plus:

On July 2, 1856, the Cleveland Weekly Plain Dealer included a news article quoting from a speech given by Senator Stephen Douglas: "You all know that I am not indifferent in any contest where the success of the Democracy is at stake..."

The Clarksville Weekly Chronicle newspaper of Tennessee on November 4, 1882, reported that "The very fundamental principles of Democracy are at stake."

In a news article on November 1, 1884, The St. Paul Daily Globe noted that "The great principles of Democracy are at stake just the same as ever."

The Waco News included the following headline in its edition dated May 25, 1892: "Democracy At Stake."

On April 20, 1894, The Burlington Free Press And Times printed a news article quoting a U S Senator from North Carolina as he referenced President Grover Cleveland: "It was folly, almost insanity, for the democracy to stake its existence and its principles upon any individual, and especially upon such a person as Cleveland. He is not a democrat..."

The Portland Daily Press included a headline of "The Pipe of Peace" on its front page on October 6, 1894; this headline referenced political activities in New York. Part of a sub headline for this same news article: "...It realizes that Democracy is at Stake in that State and will Bury Personal Dislikes..."

The Times of Richmond printed a headline stating that "Democracy Is At Stake" on its front page on October 23, 1894.

The same headline – "Democracy At Stake" – appeared on the front page of The Lancaster Intelligencer on November 3, 1900.

On March 29, 1904, the front page of the Harrisburg Telegraph included a news article that quoted a General who declared that "...the approaching national election the fate of pure Democracy is at stake."

The San Francisco Chronicle on January 30, 1907, included a news article about a tribute to President McKinley on the anniversary of his death (he was assassinated). In the news article, a pastor was quoted as stating "The Old World anarchy will invade and destroy these conditions. It should not be for one moment tolerated at any time or place, for our democracy is at stake."

On October 15, 1913, The Age-Herald newspaper of Birmingham printed a news article quoting an individual running for office as stating that "It strikes me that the honor of the Alabama democracy is at stake..."

A news article in the edition of the Buffalo Evening News dated April 26, 1922, included a news article quoting a member of the U S House of Representatives as he detailed what the role of labor unions should be in politics: "Labor's mission in politics is not a selfish one. The future of our democracy is at stake..."

The Kansas City Star included the following headline on its front page on February 27, 1928: "See Fight on Slate"; a sub headline followed: "Democracy Harmony Is Threatened In Pre-Convention Disputes at St. Joseph."

On March 9, 1928, a candidate for Governor was quoted in a news article in The Knoxville Journal: "As long as the administration of our laws discriminates between the poor and the rich, our democracy shall be threatened. I have no fear of foreign invasion, but I am alarmed at the progress of our own departments of government toward self decay."

The Kansas State News reported in a news article about Memorial Day on May 31, 1928: "...But it is not in times of war alone that liberty and democracy are threatened. In the soothing time of peace the inspiring despot and the autocrat make stealthy attacks upon the liberties of people..."

On July 3, 1928, the front page of the St. Joseph News-Press included a headline that stated "Texas Democracy Is Threatened As Candidates Balk."

The Commercial Appeal of Memphis, Tennessee, included a sub headline on its front page on July 21, 1928 that stated "Sees Democracy Threatened." In the news article for this sub headline, an individual running in a primary to represent Tennessee in the U S Senate was quoted as stating "...has polluted the whole...of Tennessee politics and threatens the very life of the Democracy of the state..."

On July 31, 1928, the Lincoln State Journal included a headline that stated "The Revolt Begins" and then quotes a news piece regarding prohibition from the Chicago Evening Post: "There is greater danger for democracy in the threatened dry revolt than menaces republicanism in the dissatisfaction of certain farmer elements..."

On August 26, 1928, The Portsmouth Star printed a news article detailing comments from a member of Congress in which he stated that "...In Staunton a few days later he [Congressman J. T. Deal] took a different viewpoint and urged all to arms that Democracy, now threatened in Virginia, may be saved..."

On the same day, a news article in The Constitution newspaper of Atlanta, Georgia, on August 26, 1928, referenced comments from a U S Senator from Texas: "There has not been a time since the establishment of this government, the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the adoption of the federal constitution, when the principles of democracy were so threatened as now."

A front-page headline in the Buffalo Evening News on August 29, 1928:
"Erie County Democracy Again Threatened by Civil War..."

It should be noted that the United States of America has endured through all of these years.

Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.

Contact Richard McDonough at PeirspictiochtaiArAnSaol@protonmail.com.

© 2024 Richard McDonough