The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-02-24
Thursday Morning, Feb. "a. 'j3.
RATES OF ADVERTISING.
(Nonparicl type or its equivalent)
The Democrat and the Democratic
Party.

The Democrat and the Democratic
Party.
At the time Of the frs; election for delegate IN
this Territory both the candidates Democrats,
and the parties were divided on personal and
political grouls--but it created a div sion which the
democratic party in the Territory feels to this day
No divisions among men will engender such strong
feelings Of opposition those of personal character,
and parties will ever be more thoroughly united in
opposition II each other than tho Rice and the
Sbcy parties in this Territory at the first election
for Delegate. Both the gea,cnc,, had long resided
on the frontier and occupied positions Which placed
them prominently before the people. Both had done
much bring the Territory into notice, and devcl.
ope its resources and both had many strong personal
friends. Democrats and Wings Joined both parties,
and it NAV be truly said that National politics were
uaknown in the
! so strong were the leading democrats, (among
whom were both Mr. Rice and Mr.. Sibcy.) impressed
with The wrong that beng done to the demo-
cratic cause By defeating it' power Of action through
a sonal divsinn that various attempts made
TO organize the Democratic party upon party grounds
But a thorough organization found impracticable
the mass OF the party were opposed to party orga'-
izaton, and parties conti,ued with little change eX
cept tha, caused BY the increase OF the parties from
the mn grafton into the Terrific until the Delegate
election in 1850. AT the opening of ts:at canvass
there were two Democrats, Mcssrs. Sibey and Ohm
stead; and Col. Mitchell, a Wing, and al the same
time Marshal o.. the Territory, ualer Wing a T.
nins,,ation. Subsequently, Oms,cad withdrew in
favor Of Mitchell, and the assumed more of
party character. The Pioneer, then, as now, Demo
cratic, supported the Democrat, and the Chronicle
and Register, avowed Wang paper, advocated the
election Of the Wing candidate. Under ordinary
circumstances the Wing md the Democratic parties
would have organized and fought under party banners
but owing the feelings OF hostility excited by the
previous canvass, both Democrats and Wings were
divided in their support OF the candidates, and the
parties became Sibey and Mitchell parties. short
time after the election, which terminated in the
cess of Mr.. S,bley the second time, The Demo-
crat' was established.
The publication of the Democrat hailed at
the time by democrats of both factions presenting
favorable prospcc: for efectins union OF the
Democratic party. The editor supposed TO he
disconnected with any division Of the party. lie was
supposed to b, Democrat, and as such was believed
TO be anxious 10 see the disscn,ipns in the party
healed, and the strife between the two ends of the
party to cease. And had he taken a conciliaory
course--ad he been Influenced by honest desire 10
unc the party, his Efforts would have beea successful
Never again cou an opportunity offer for an honest
and disntercstad advocacy Of union III the democratic
ranks with greater probability Of success And
had honesty and love Of the principles Of Democ-
racy, controlled the columns of the Democrat from its
first establishment, in the Territory; had the editor
carefully reilained from identifying himself with ei-
Their faction Of the party and SOU ht the roconcia-
ton Of party annosities, there be doubt that
the Democrats Of the Territory would have been
matted and acting and harmon, at The next
subsequent, election.
But the editor of the Democrat was by no means
desrous that the party should he united. Ga the
contrary he excrted himself to keep open the party
wound, that then existed and TO infict others when
ever, and wherever an opportunity presented. lie
into the Territory full of the idea that he
be the ''bigyest toad in the pudlle;' the head and
embodiment of the Only democracy he would adyo-
cate--the political dictator whom all must bow sub
m;SsiveIy. Hoping thereby to serve his political
aud personal ends he became the avowed organ of
the Mitchell party--declarcd open hostility to Nh
Siblcy, and his friends, denouncng all WhigS, in
the most approved Fish Market style, who dared to
question his supremacy.
The Democrat was declared the organ Of the De
mocracy bat us there were also many Wings in his
party, he purchased and controlled The Chronicle and
Register, the only Wing paper printed in the Terri
tory, which he declared to bc the Wing organ, and
in that Paper h opened battery against Gov Ram
scy, and all the prominent Wings of the Territory
His energies then put forth the pubic
printing Of the Territory, To prevent the settlement
of the country west Of the Mississippi, and to be al
lowed to furnish, through his Democratic and Wing
organs, the political music Of the Territory.
When the Legislature met, however, the owner Of
th, two political organs very much disconnected
in his arrangements by the election Of the proprietor
Of the Pioneer, Territorial printer. This defeat,
although dscourag ny, melted the owner Of the Or
gans to renewed exertions. The Democrat became
more severe on Mr.. Sibry-the Chronicle and Re-
gister more bitter against Gov Ramsey. Both pa
pcrs declared cxiermne,iny asains, the coun-
try of the Mississippi; and during the session
Of the Legislature the INSCRIPTIONS means were
resorted to for the purpose Of obtaining the passage
of law DISTINGUISHING the settlements that part Of
the Territory; although the organic secured to
them the right of suf.agc.
The failure ia this very Dcn,craftc measure ia the
Legislature. and the appropriation by Congress of
money for the negotiation of treaty for the purchase
OF the country west Of the Mississippi caused the
OF the organs to pause for reflection. He de-
cded to change his tactics The Chronicle and Re- /
gster discontinued. The Democrat assumed the !
tone and responsibility of the only organ; democratic
princinlas were nrnleSseI anI anti ,r,tc nn.s