'Watchman, how wears the night?'-is the question many a time asked during the intervals of the storm, by those who sleep securely in their reliance on the vigilance of the humble but faithful guardian of the public tranquillity;—and happy is it when the answer is returned, that the storm is over and the day is breaking.' Such is the answer we can return, from our watch-tower of observation, to the friends who would ask how fares the cause of the Democracy, through the season of night and storm through which it has had to pass. The storm is over and the day is breaking,—a day of triumph and rejoicing;—and though it is yet to be marked by an arduous contest, yet we have at least the light prayed for by the Grecian hero; and with so righteous a cause, under a banner that we are so well assured to be invincible, we can have no misgivings as to the issue with which it is to be closed and crowned.

There is every thing, in the present aspect of the great contest that is in progress throughout the country, to cheer and encourage the friends of the Democratic cause,-every thing to cause their bosoms to swell high with patriotic hope and an honorable pride. All the signs of the times which are exhibiting themselves over the surface in every direction, confirm the view we have before taken of this important Political Crisis, in the pages of the Democratic Review, that it is one of those periodical castings of the skin' which are equally unavoidable, to a strong democratic majority long in the ascendant, and indispensable to preserve it in perpetual health, youth, and vigor. This process, though always painful and critical, is now in progress with the most favorable circumstances and auspices that we could desire; and our confidence in its result, which has never wavered an instant, is receiving every day a new and clearer confirmation. Such will continue to be the history of the democratic party in this country, from time to time, so long as our government, both Federal and State, is administered on the principles which have heretofore directed it, of legislating upon

the private and partial interests of individuals and classes; especially if its connexion with the great moneyed interests of the countrynow so happily loosened, to a considerable extent-should be resumed. In that case the experience of the future will most assuredly confirm, again and again, that of the past, viz. that the power of the majority will constantly tend more or less to abuse, to favor the interests of a certain influential class of political leaders, who, deriving their prominence originally from the generous zeal of their Republican opinions and sentiments, in early life, become insensibly warped from the great and broad abstract principles of that faith, by the too long possession both of political power and personal influence, so as in truth to be no longer fit and worthy leaders to a party whose animating spirit must always be a generous enthusiasm in behalf of those great principles. Democracy is bold and energetic, unresting in its perpetual striving after a better good, a higher perfection of social institutions. None can be unconscious that our whole scheme of political institutions, under both the Federal and State Constitutions, is very far from being purely democratic. Though democracy is their prevalent principle, and their original root and basis, yet in all it is more or less combined with so many checks upon its freedom of developement, and so large an infusion of elements of an opposite character, that they are far indeed from perfection; and far indeed from producing all those glorious and beneficent results, of general social well-being, towards which the imagination of the political enthusiast so earnestly aspires, and of which he is so profoundly convinced that, in their simple natural purity, the great principles of his faith do contain the germs. Democracy, then, among us must always be a restless, progressive, reforming, principle. The utmost extent to which it can ever be deemed possible by any one to carry forward the great mission of democratic amelioration in the condition of society, in any present generation, must still fall very far short of that ideal standard which must exist in the mind, and in the prophetic hope, of every democratic thinker, truly imbued with the spirit of his noble and sublimely simple faith. But it must be perpetually tending forward towards such amelioration,―perpetually engaged in some new reform, some new simplification, or the extirpation of some element in our institutions of which time has practically developed the evil character and influence. Such being the inherent character of democracy, it is impossible for such a class of men as referred to above, the old influential leaders and managers of the party organization, who gradually form themselves like a crust over its surface, always to retain that relation to the broad mass of their party, which they originally owed to the enthusiasm and devotion now chilled by the torpor and natural timidity of age, and too often corrupted by the acquisition of wealth,-favored and facilitated by the direction

which their own political influence may have given to the course of public events. We entertain the most profound respect for the venerable dignity and wisdom of gray hairs; and are conscious of the importance of the influence of the countless sound sterling old Republicans who at the present moment confer honor on our party, by the conspicuous positions they still delight to retain in the great contest incessantly waging, for the principles of which they derived their first lessons from the fountain-head of the Jeffersonian era. But we are here considering the subject on a broader scale of generalization; and desire to bring this truth to the apprehension of our readers, that instead of there being any just cause for alarm for the integrity of the Democratic party, and for the safety of the great cause involved in the destinies of that party in this country, in the spectacle which has been seen, of its temporary disorganization, and the desertion of a portion of its prominent influential and wealthy leaders--such is, on the contrary, precisely one of the most unequivocal symptoms, that its main body is in a sound and healthy state; and that it is passing, in a natural and favorable manner, through one of those periodical crises necessary to preserve it in such a state. It is engaged in its natural and proper mission, that of Reform; and therefore must necessarily expect to encounter the hostility, not only of the main body of its old opponents, but of those among its own former leaders interested in the perpetuation of the evils against which its efforts are now directing themselves. Democracy is the vital principle of our system; and it is now engaged in an earnest struggle with a deeply seated disease, which had insensibly been suffered to overspread the body politic, till the painful developement of its morbid action has aroused all the healthful energy of the principle of life to arrest its further progress, and at least to expel it from its too close proximity to the vitals of the constitution. Such a struggle for the ascendency must necessarily be long, and, to many, seemingly doubtful-inflaming the whole system with fever, and convulsing it with suffering--but we have never permitted ourselves for a moment to doubt the ultimate triumph of nature over the disease; and we repeat that all the symptoms now disclosing themselves are clearly confirming that confidence.

In the late convulsion, it is not to be denied, nor have we ever denied, that the Democratic party was shaken to its centre. Had a Presidential election fallen upon that period, it would probably have been overthrown. No party could ever successfully, in a general election, face such a tempest as then swept, raging and howling, over the land. This admission in no respect impugns the cardinal democratic doctrine of confidence in the popular judgment, for which it is never intended to claim either an absolute infallibility, or an exemption from temporary influences of excitement and panic.

As a body it may be said to have been disorganized,-demoralized to speak in military phrase. Rarely have the leaders of a great party, in the constant struggles of parties in free states, been thrown suddenly into a more critical and arduous position. But they proved not unequal to the occasion, not untrue to their cause. THE MESSAGE OF THE EXTRA SESSION saved the cause, and saved the country. They planted themselves on a rock of impregnable principle, and unfurling a flag that "streamed like a meteor to the troubled air," sounded a most gallant rallying note, over the whole length and breadth of the land, to invite their party to gather around that rock of refuge, and recombine their broken organization under the shadow of that flag. A year has not yet elapsed, and the course of events is already rapidly justifying the bold wisdom of the high position then assumed. The process of reorganization has been steadily going forward, in spite of the herculean exertions of open foes from without, and false friends within, to impede and distract it; and though not yet entirely consummated, has reached a stage that is quite satisfactory to us, as placing its ultimate complete success beyond fear of danger. The democracy has recovered from its paralysis of panic, and is beginning to put forth again the ener gies of its renewed youth. In no former contest has it ever evinced a finer and nobler spirit. This is signally shewn in the primary assemblies of the people, which have of late appeared every where animated by the most generous zeal and the highest confidence,that zeal and confidence which, springing alone from a deep sense of the righteousness of the democratic side of the great issue now joined, are both the strongest incentives to exertion, and the surest harbingers of success.

This same fine spirit breathes, in a still more striking manner, from the Democratic Press. This truth, which is indeed at the present period very remarkable, can only, perhaps, be fully appreciated by those who possess the opportunity of observation afforded by a widely extended exchange over the whole Union, with papers of all political complexions. Though in number not equalling probably the fourth part of their opponents,-and almost universally inferior in most of those elements of success which depend on the liberality with which they are supported by the public,-yet the Democratic papers, throughout the country, exhibit at the present period a contrast to the Whig press equally favorable and remarkable. They are full of energy, boldness, confidence, earnestness, argument and eloquence. The leading questions at issue present such ample materials for the most convincing addresses to the judgments of their readers, and the most stirring appeals to their patriotic and democratic sentiments, that it would be strange indeed if such were not the case. In fact, we possess an advantage in the simple, solid strength of our CAUSE, for which all the num