Georgetown weekly news., 1855-06-07
freedoms Phalanx-DsmOcratio Clubs

The political organization called the Dem
ocratic club, which was originated "a few
weeks since in Placerville, had a provision
in its constitution, or ritual, which provided
that any persons who would sign their plat
form should be thereby constituted men,
bers of the Club. The two papers which
heretofore have been known as Democratic,
and which are still published, are now ar
dent supporters of this new organization
They claim that it is the Democratic party.
But the resolution of this so-called Demo
cratic Club against Know Nothings and
their principles are unprecedented, 1t was
no part of the platforms of any of the Dem
ocratic National Conventions. 1t is true,
that the PIERCE Administration has identi-
fed itself with the opposition to the new
party; but it is also true that the present
Administration is not supported by one
half of those Democrats who placed this
Administration in power; as the elections
North and South have shown. And when
Californians consider its opposition to the
Pacific Railroad, it is not reasonable to as
sumo that one half of those in this State,
who voted for the present incumbent, are
to-day the supporters or defenders of his
Administration.
So this Democratic Club of Placervile
has undertaken to add to the former plat
form Of the Democracy. which they had no
authority to do, and now by swearing allie
glance to this unauthorized and Legitimate
platform of their own concocting, they have
formed new party. They may call it the
Democratic Club, or Freedoms Phalanx;
but It certain as new and different an or
ganization as is the Know Nothing party
This Democratic Club and Freedoms Pha-
lanx. are the me thing. Called Freedoms
Phalanx when it meets in secret, and Dem
ocratic Club when it meets publicly. If
the members Of the Democratic Club claim
the right to add to the ole Democratic plat
form on tie ground of progressiventss, then
those Democrats who support American
principles can with as much propriety, do
the latter, and give as good a reason.
But that the Club" is not the Democrat
ic party we might in proof notice the fact
that good and true members of the Dem
ocratic party, who attend the meetings are
not expected to speak or vote on any ques-
ton Why? Because they are not men,
bers of the Club. And how may they be-
come SO? By signing solemn pledge that
they are not at this time members Of any
secret political party, and will not become
SO during their term of Office, in case such
person should be elected. and not otherwise.
At most, but, small proportion Of those
who have heretofore acted with the Democ-
racy have signed this pledge, but enough
perhaps, to control its nominations. In
the last number of the Mountain Demo-
crGt, one of the organs and founders Of this
new order, is given, an account of the
Democratic Club meeting; from which it
appears that the meeting was a perfect
pandemonium. The accounts we have from
other quarters represent the discord even
greater than what the Democrat frankly ad-
mits.
The Democrat argues that those who were
not members of the Club had no right to
vote or speak This we think is true; but,
at the same time, in this view it is entirely
unjust to claim that the Clubs are the Dem
ocratic organization. 1t is a party in it
self Those who are not legally members Of
it are not entitled to vote or speak in its
meetings; nor are they bound by its action.