Democratic banner., 1850-02-25
ADDRESS.
To the Democratic Citizensof Pike.

By reference to the proceedings of Dem
~ocratic meeting, held in the Court House at
Bowling Green on the first day Of Febru-
airy term, 1850, of the Pike County Court,
lit will be seen that the undersigned were
sppointed q committee to address you on
tile Importance of a thorugh organization Of
the democratic party, preparatory to the
ensuing August election. IN discharging
the duty thus imposed on us, we shall be
very brief; because VI feel assured that
every true democrstin the County, every
one who loves the principles declared by
our party through their delegates in Nation
al Convention, in 1910, IA & '4s; every one
who wishes to see those principles main
tain their triumph over error in Missouri,
must now sec and feel the absolute ncces-
isity of united and concerted action o N the
part of the friends ofdemocracy. The ex-
ipericnce of ages has taught us the truth
that no great party has ever long maintain
ed the ascendant, while discord reigned in
its ranks. The permanent establishment Of
every great measure, must depend upon
the harmony of feeling and unity Of action
of its friends. Knowing this, those who
desire to see our party Frustrated, and all
our cherished principles trodden under foot,
are now making an effort to excite preju-
dice and to engender bad feelings in the
minds Of some who have heretofore acted
with us as friends in a common cause
The cause of"equsl la ws and equal rights"
This eff1rtt to disorganize, to distract, to dis
Sever and defeat us, should meet Yith o
Irebuke commensurate with its Saseness.-
1t is by this means alone, that the opponents
of democratic principles can ever expect
to succeed. They know that those princi-
piles meet with a friendly response in the
hearts Of a majority Of our citizens. They
know that we have the numbers; and that
so long as We are united ip action, so long
as we rally to the support Of our principles
and our party. regardless Of minor differ
lences about men, so long as We present an
unbroken front, we are unconquerable.-
How important then, that every democrat
should divest himself OF all predile elton or
prejudice for or against men, whether for
the State or National Legislature, and look
to principle alone as the guiding star Of his
action. Men are but mor.als, principles
are eternal. Men may change, principles
never can. The democratic meeting by
which we were appointed a committee, a.
dopted a set Of resolutions briefly r~eitera-
ting the principles which have received the
adherence ofthe democratic republican psr-
Ity from the days of jefferson and Jackson, to
the present hour. To those principles we
most heartily subscribe, and we sincerely
believe that they will rect with u cordial
response in the breast of every democrat in
the County. Let US then in a spirit Of frater-
nal feeling, with the glorious old motto,
'%'union, oncession, harmony--everything for
the cause and nothing for men," determine
to select as our agents, those who with the
greatest ability will most truly reflect those
principles. Let us assemble together in
township meetings as recommended and
consult each other in a spirit of fairness, as
TO the persons best calculated to bear the
banner Of democracy in triumph through
the coming contest. We say contest, for
the signs of the times are now portentous
Of a struggle. Our banner, the banner Of
Democracy has hoated proudly over our
State for the last twenty years. Will we
now see it struck by a fratricidal hand tol
the ground, and left ingloriously to trail in|
the dust? No never! Then let very man
who desires to see it still float gaily on the
breeze, buckle on his armor and prepare
for the contest. With the motto "divide
and conquer" our opponents are preparing
for q guerrilla warfare. Our motto must
be, sin union there is strength" and our
watchword reorganization" The meeting
at Bowling Green has announced the word,
and let every township send back the echo
From center TO extreme and from extreme
TO center let it echo and re.echo, ORGAN
IzE! oRGANrzE!! The good old platform
of democratic principles is broad enough
for every true Republican. Then let every
democrat endeavor to divest himself Of all
prejudice, and actuated by a high and holy
love of principles, step boldly on it. On that
high Ind noble ground, let us all fearlessly
take our stand shoulder to shoulder, and
then firmly united as a band of brothers,
pass the word from rank to rank, sin union
there is strength"
Tothe several township committees we
would more particularly address ourselves.
We would warn them that the 23d day Of
March. the dav agreed nnon for bold;rr III.