Mariposa Democrat., 1857-05-06
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IL Is tnc peCullai pTiue anu poast vi ehe
Democratic party that, no matter what new
local questions and attractions may spring up,
its needle never varies, and it never loses sight
of the polar star Of Nationalism. Every few
years new party, founded upon local, geo.
graphichal, or ephemeral questions, in "gaudy
tinsel comes arrayed," sets its political life upon
the cast makes short and desutory battle, and
dissolves from view--leaving scarcely rem
nant of the transient pageant Why is it that
at the present time, of all the party organiza-
tions, which even in the recollections of young
men have had their day, the Democratic party
alone survives, and pointing to the records of a
half century proudly acknowledges its birth,
youth and maturity, and seeks not to hide its
past in the Protean mask of change? 1t
is because its leading objects and main-springs
to action haze been the Union and national
welfare, unswerved by local or temporary at
traction. These have been the touchstones by
which it tests all new issues, which if found not
view, it has ever rejected and made to yield.
Each revolving year furnishes confirmation
Of these assertions, with increased veneration
for the party whose solidity is strengthened by
the violence of selfexpending storms, and
whose longevity alone seems destined to be
crowned with the recollections of glorious
deeds, and well spent existence. As with
individuals, SO should it be with political par
ties. They should never advocate or commit
an act from which they would hide, or endeavor
to escape by change of name or otherwise
They should never for moment forget the
general interests of the whole Union, in chasing
the transient butterflies of temporary expedi-
ency, or heed the siren charms Of the passing
hour. A life spent in instability, change and
contradiction, has no gilded sunset-no vene-
Fable grandeur-few proud and soul comfort
ing rehections-no luminous retrospect, whose
bright beams light with hope the dimness of
futurity. A glancing reminiscence at the past
half century brings to mind the shades of Fed
eralism, evidently bearing the lingering marks
Of British ancestry, and through tyranny of
habit taught to tremble at the peoples self
agency as an over-timid mother over her de-
veloping offspring. Next to the mental vision
arises the kindred shade of National Republi-
eansm, the early but not premature fruit of
the tomb, though only numbering the years of
single ustrum. In their footsteps come the
more attractive Gallant Old Wing party"
open generous and manly in its bearing-killed
not so much by blows from its foes, as broad
sides from masked batteries fired by the hands
of guardian friends and partisans. 1t leaves
its own epitaph-that mere expediency is the
the certain harvest of swift decay. Next fol-
lows its ephemeral successor, dark, bigoted and
intolerant; born and nourished on the noxious
vapors of the night, it cast only momentary
shadow over the land, and was driven into in
significance under the rising frowns of free
people. of Black Republicanism it is only ne
cessary to make allusion, to arouse the pity and
shame ofliberal and conservative men. Black
in name, and still blacker in designs, propensi-
ties and sympathies, its narrow and fanatcal
zeal would madly sacrifice the fairest human
government to gain their end in abolishing
questionable evil.
That the Democracy cling to the same doc
trine of rights in the States in one part of the
Union as in another, is the history of that par
ty Nationality is its boast-the Union its
pride-and as a means to both it has cherished
States rights as carefully and devotedly as if
each State was tie Nation, and upon its SOW
ereignty depended the Union. The American
Government is no mystcry-ts very simplicity
is binding to passion and fanaticism.
EXAMINATION OF Mrs. WnITNEY.-ln another
column we publish the testimony taken in the