The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-12-19
Party Organization

The Pioneer favors party organization,
when practicable, for reasons, forcbly and
concise!y stated, in former numbers of this
paper. But the Pioneer favors no partial or
ganizatiou, got up expressly for the promo
ton of particular men, instead of particular
principles; for such organizations, whatever
name they may assume, are really factions,
not parties We make this distinction. la
parties principles are everything-men,
nothing; but in factions, men are every
thing; principles nothing. Whoever aban-
dons an organization, because IL does not
favor his personal ambition, is factionist
and is incapable Of being anything else
This is the truth, without Il scabbard;
whether it cuts with ons edge or with two
edges. We have not used and will not use,
party names, as shield, or as n weapon,
in a contest which is really, personal con-
test The assumption of party names, by
factions, doee not change facts. They are
still, factions, however labelled; and party
names are then mere hobby horses, which
their saddles from the back of Democracy
to Whiggery, or from the back of Wing
gerry to Democracy. as quick as The most
expert express rider. Organizations per-
verted to such purposes, aud with such re-
suits, we have seen in Minnesota. Planting
the standard Of Democracy upon principles
fixed and eternal, without fear favor or
affection, we stood Ivy that standard, de
term;ned, if possible, to prevent it from be-
ing made the standard OF iaction.-
Through one election, we defended it, al
though it was denounced as Rice standard.
Through another election, we would have
defended it, whether denounced as Rice
standard, or as Siliey standard, success
iul or unsuccessful, had there remained an
inch OF the party to plant it upon. The
truth is, that more than one year ago, Sib-
lev Democracy had never yet ventured to
plant its ti,nd foot upon The party platform
-but just as it was stepping on, prcparato-
~ TO The late election, Rice stepped off and
wheeling around to the flag end Of the
Wings, entered into an alliance with Mitch
ell s. Co., The terms OF which involved GER
tain considerations, personal TO the con-
tracing parties, and involved either The
transfer or the betrayal and aba ndonment
OF every Democrat in Minnesota, who
had gone into the organization and who
was ready 10 defend it, as party
organization, for party and not for per-
sooal purposes. No gospel was ever truer
than ibis plain statement Of facts.
The principal reasons we have to offer,
for moi filing the Pioneer Of late, with pol
itics, are these.
LIST. We found that the people Of Min
nessota took deeper interest in the gen.
era, welfare of the Territory and in matters
relating to its condition, resources, growth,
business and settlement, than ia any dis
cassion of abstract political questions.
Cd. We find that the people Of Mime
sofa, understand the questions which are
or bave been at issue, between Wings and
Democrats, about as we'll as aoy people we
ever knew; and that we cannot euighten
the.r understandings, improve their taste,
or benefit their morals much, by serving a
weekly hash ofold political slobber
S,I. A large share Of the Democracy of
Minnesota have been so earnestly engaged,
for year past, in arranging the removal OF
Col. Mitchell, the Marshal, Az unprinci-
pied Wing Office holder Of our Territory,
Jy eleciiag him our Delegate TO Congress,
that they have had neither time 10 study nor
to practice, democratic principles.
As for the Pioneer, it stands, firm and up
right upon the solid platform Of Jefiersoni-
an Democrary--th exponent and the advo-
cate Of democratic principles, Democrat
ic men, end Democrats measures" When
first one wing Of the newly organized party,
declined a contest with the wings, at the
first election, the Pioneerstood firmly up to
the organzaioa and met defeat without
murmnr--when at the next election, the
ollie. wing Of The party went over, to the
support Of Mitchell--each wing, ia turn,
abandoning the other and taking POI
sition upon the territorial PLATFORM -
the Pioneer, throughout, stood napfuIly up
for the organization, as long as plank was
left, and declined any sort Of participation,
either in one or in another Of the aTerrito-
rial Conventions Whenever the Demo
cratic party shall see fitto re-organize, UNI
der such auspices and with such guarantees