The Shasta courier., 1855-10-13

As announced last week, we have stepped
forth from the ranks of the Independent Press.
aaI now take our position clad in Democratic
armor, as an advocate and defender of that party
whose founder was Jefferson, and whose prin.
ciples and policy have successively been illus
,rated by the glorious administrations Of Madi-
son. Monroe, jackson and Polk.
At the time the Courier was started, we pro.
missed that it should be an Independent journal.
Yba, tive have keptour promise, no honest reader
ui our paper will deny. True, a few who regard
truth secondary to qualification of private
spleen. have charged US with having occasion.
ally entered the political ring with partzan as
rect. This we deny, and challenge the produc-
''nuf Il particle ofevidence to sustain the charge.
1iat We occasionally felt it our duty and priv.
lcso TO oppose certain measures proposed by
different politicians, we freely admit We did
sc b, cause we believed those measures would
prove Injurious to the interests Of California.
That We have taken grounds against certain
measures which we believed unconstitutional,
sc also admit. No man with mind capable of
understanding the meaning of the term inde-
pendent Journal, will deny our right SO to do.
But that we. while protesting neutrality ever
ipok sides for or against either of the two great
political parties into which the people of the
Union have long been divided, we emphatically
deny. True. when the strange and antirepub-
l'can doctrines of Know-Nothingism were first
being advocated, we expressed our opposition to
Ruf fba ulo
pirty was swallowed up by the Know Nothing
organization the Courier recognized the right
OF the latter party to take the position previously
occupied by the former, and conducted itself
accordingly.
Now, however, the reasons for our remaining
neutral in political affairs no longer exist In
decd, circumstances have made it a matter Of
imperative duty with us-a duty from which we
feel no sort of disposition to shirk-to unfur at
our mast head the time-honored flag of Democ-
racy. And to-day we proudly hang it upon the
outer wall. In taking this step we break no
pledge and wrong man. In few days the
opposing party will possess an organ in this
place. devoted to the advocacy of its peculiar
doctrines. That that organ will possess ample
ability to secure fair hearing" on the Know
Nothing side of all issues between the two par
tics. the name of Judge Hinckley, as Senior
Editor, is of itself sufficient evidence.
In conclusion we would say that we are fully
impressed with the importance and responsible
ty Of the new position which we have assumed
In the language Of another. there is not a sign in
the political heavens that does not por,end
storm, and we are satisfied tina: the old National
Democratic party is the only party that can di.
vert its fury. We believe that this party will
govern the country upon sounder constitutional
principles than the opposing organization. We
believe that the principles of the Democratic
party are more in accordance with the spirit Of
the Constitution, with the genius of our institu-
tions. with the teachings of the Fathers of the
Republic. Hence as parties now organized.
with Democracy on the side and Know
Nothinsism on the other-we are Democrats,
aud defenders of Democratic principles