The Sierra citizen., 1854-04-08
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1854.
Partisans.


Partisans.
IT is to be regretted that, recent as has
been the organization Of our State govern
ment, a horde Of unprincipled, rampant
politicians, hang round the doors Of the
public Offices, and infest the little mining
towns much to the annoyance of those
who are really acquainted with the princi-
pies of government, and who have the
ability to maintain the dignity Of the Office
to which they are chosen.
It true that every freeman has the
right to express his opinion as often and
as loud as he pleases, and that, come from
what rank of life he may, he is eligible to
the highest Offices, provided his fellow
citizens can be induced to vote for him.
1t is not the exercise Of this right we
object to, but the noisy and pertinaciouS
manner in which they infict themselves
on the public uncalled for, endeavoring to
make the people at large believe that
unless they are chosen to Office the govern
ment will be subverted, the public moneys
sauandered, taxation increased, and
general wreck of the ship of State will
ensue.
California has become the rendezvous
of the disappointed politicians of the At
lantic States. The aspirant to Office who
could not succeed at home, comes here in
the confident expectation of slipping into
comfortable quarters at the heels of some
great man, whom he has selected as his
patron; and during the first year Of his
novitiate, he sedulously devotes himself to
the interests of his Mecenas, with the
understanding that the service will be
reciprocated when he shall have COM
menced operations on his own hook
Hence when election time comes round,
the drinking saloons are filed with patri-
otic individuals lecturing to their friends,
''the people" who are ranged in rows along
Che counters, drinking at the lecturers
expense. Some, who do not take the
trouble to think swallow both the in
formation and liquor; others, more wary
mentally elevate the fingers to the nose
and make the sign of incredulity and drink
the liquor alone. But experience has
proved that corps of partisan skirmishers
of this kind can be of very great service to
candidates for Office, particularly in a new
country, wherc every one is too intent on
his avocation to coptrovert the assertions
which he don't think worth while to try
to disprove. But in the course of time
these faithful adherents must be remune.
rated; they have been behind the scenes,
and become acquainted with the political
intirmities Of their patrons, and neglect
and ingratitude would provoke them to
"blow." In the next convention their
claims are preferred, laying on of politi-
cal hands takes place, and if they belong
to the party which happens to be in the
ascendant, they are sure of election.
Then commences the vituperation Of
the press but this is looked upon as a
matter of course, and the abusive or lauda-
tory articles are read and forgotten, and
the only result is a splitting headache to
the editor. The great seal of party is on
the candidate, and it is treason to forsake
the standard. The member elect takes
his seat and nobody knows what his graft
Gcations are.
In both State Legislature and Congress,
there are always turbulent and contradic-
tory spirits, who seize upon unimportant
questions and magnify them until the less
discerning believe them to be questions oI
most momentous import. Little factions
start from the two great parties, and they
too, must have their leaders as we'll as
members to do the voting. Every one be-
lieves that he is capable Of leading party
of his own, and may be honest in the be-
lief that he is capable of doing the State
some service. Months are spent in wrang.
ling for supremacy; land this is the way
the money goes"
We believe that the existence of two
great political parties is necessary in g
government like ours, in order to prevent
the abuses which must creep into one
party when too long in power. But ii
the United States parties are multiplying
yearly. The annexation Of q, pew State
which wonld otherwise pass unoproeed