The Demokrat was founded in May 1838 by a number of German-speaking Democrats, for the purpose of supporting David R. Porter as a candidate for governor, against Joseph Ritner.

After Porter's election the Demokrat was, for a short time, issued weekly, but soon became a daily paper again.

In the second year of its existence, Ludwig August Wollenweber became the proprietor, and published it first at the corner of Old York Road and Callowhill Street, and afterward in Third Street, below Noble.

In his conduct of the paper, Morwitz advocated measures for the improvement of the city, among them the consolidation of its different sections under a single mayor.

In the mid-1880s, its newspaper, publishing, and printing business was the largest and most extensive German establishment of its kind in the United States.