The Placer herald., 1856-02-23
The Contest Of 1855.

Inc QIduld Ol 1907 IS 10 Dc repeated III
1856. Again are the Union loving citizens
Of the Republic to be called upon to attest
their devotion to the principles which they
so nobly sustained ia 1852; again is the
peace of the country threatened by the in
sdious wile5 Of fanaticism, and again is the
strong arm Of national conservatism to be
employed in defense of the Union and the
Constitution. The Whig party which but a
short time since stood erect and detiant-not
untreQuently the successful opponent Of De
mocracy-is now prostrated and Inundated.
Stabbed by its frieuds-its name and princi-
pies deserted and eXecrated by those who
once glored il thcm-it has died the death
Of the suicide.
Gathering in one mighty sweep all the
abominabie fusions Of the day, permitting no
opportunity to pass whereby it might raise
false issues, create new eXcitements and en-
bitter one section Of the Union against the
other, the Fusion party stands forth for the
contest-a party whose success would be a
national caamity-more, an eternal curse.
Unscrupulous are the efforts which have
been and are now being made by its unprin-
cipled abettors to secure its triumph in the
coming Presidential contest; and the eXer-
tions Of national union men, should be Wig
orously put forth to defeat this movement
and lay it low forever. That there is a
strong union sentiment in the hearts Of the
American people which no tanaticism can
uproot, no sectional appeals eradicate, we
know to be true and that they will rally to
the support Of living national principles and
achieve even more glorious victory against
ianaticism than in 1852, we confidently eX-
pect. Yet in view Of the magnitude of the
issues at stake issues involving the sacred
ness of the Union and the Constitution it
becomes all national men, all men who be-
lieve that the Onion should be for all, and
all for the Union, to determine upon their
course in the coming contest.
The Democratic party is emphatically the
Union party Of the country. In its day the
Wing party was second to none other in its
professions Of regard for the Union and eve
~ section of the country. But the passing
away of that party has left the Democratic
party the only one which guards carefully
the interests Of all parts Of the Union, and
which occupies high national ground. There
fore whatever may have justified Wings in
Joining issue against the Democratic party
in 1852, those reasons no longer exist,
There is "Republicanism," SO called, on the
one hand, and Democracy on the other
Fanaticism is the chief element of the for
mer. conservatism Of the latter. The one
seeks control Of the spoils and hopes to
achieve victory by passing excitement; the
other relies upon the wisdom, patriotism, in
te}ligence and discriminating justice Of the
American people for success. Let national
men, therefor consider we'll the course they
pursue in the contest Let them remember
that centuries have to atone for the errors of
a generation, and that, as loyal union citi-
zens it becomes them to give in their adhe-
sion to that party only which seeks the good
of the whole country. With such principles
animating them, they will be found earnest
co-worlers in the great work Of preserving
inyiolae the Union and the Constitution
against the assaults Of these unscrupulous
fanatics, who, under the stolen cloak Of Re
publicanisln," and on the pretence Of ertend-
ing tie area Of .treedom-would violate the
constitution Of common country, and place
it under the heel of a slavery more despotic
and servile, than that which oppresses the
unfortunate African, or imbecile Ottoman.
E,rchsnge.