Mountain Democrat., 1857-03-21
4 Xew Party.

Nlarmi>tS and n few crcdu!UuS beings, who
imagine themselves the chosen guardians
Of the Democratic party, about the forma-
tion Of n new party, which they apprc-
hcnd will seriously iniurc the Democratic
party. They hint at secret meetings in
the dark, appear t. Lc familiar with every
movement, know the prominent lirn en-
gagged in l., what their object i, and how
many belong t. it, hut from some unac-
countlhlc reason shrink from exposing
the leaders. Why this reluctance to name
the prime movers: 1t is true, we of the
mountains Rrc not over credulnuS, and
when We understand who the leaders arc
might pronounce the whole thing num-
bug, or laugh at the lille fears Of our city
patrj"tH. 10 be constantly harping about
ncw party may cyritc little curiosity,
create little interest, divert attention
from ONE f;tvoiitc scheme which few
selfish politicians wish t. push through
tho Legislature, and if, by continually
boasting of their Democracy they can lull
suspicion, which many members not cr-
roncouSly entertain of their fidelity, they
may succeed.
New parties, no matt r what they may
profess, are hunbugs, and so the masses
have pronounced them, over and over
again. The people are heartily sick Of
them, have no confidence in them, will
give them no encouragement; and few
men Of any character or common intelli.
gcncc would join them. The people arc
cmincntly Democratic, and though.
through the weakness or corruption Of
their servants they may occasionally de-
sire and even assist TO bring about q
change Of officials, their confidence in and
devotion to the principles Of the Demo-
cratic party remain unchanged, unaltcra-
bic They find it necessary, not unfre-
qucntly, 10 rcbukc the presumption and
arrogance of those they place In power
to- teach them that it is as easy to un-
make as make great man. Long con-
tinuancc in Office makes some men un-
grateful, dlctatorial, arbitrary-they cs-
tccm themselves the masters not the SER
wants of the people aud when such men
are in power, no party ties, however
strong, can induce the people to spare
them. Conventions may nominate them,
friends may labor for them, speakers may
take the stump for them, but all to no
purpose. Putting weak or bad men in
Office, sanctoning Objectionable measures,
or diSrcgartling the will Of the people and
blindly following the lead Of an adrOit
wirc-pullcr, have caused the organization
Of new parties. but not diStrust in the
correctness Of the principles Of the Dem
ocratir- party. Time has proved our pO-
>ition correct. How many parties have
sprung into existence, lived, fourishcd
and died since the organization Of our
Government Some Of them arc buricl
in oblivion--othcrS are named with ab-
horrcncc, some with dcriSi0n, few with
respect. All of them ficrccly warrcd
against the Dcmocracv-thc Democracy
triumphcd over all of them. Ono Of them,
the most powerful, the lOngcst.livcd, the
most brilliant, patriotic and national, in
the graphic and prophetic language Its
nblcst member, " lives only in history" ="
The .cloqucncc of Clay and the genius of
Webster have made it immortal. Its
struggles, triumphs and failures are writ
ten on the impclisl'ablc pages Of history.
But of all tho other parties, how many Of
them arc rcmcml'crcd:- how many of
them deserve to be: But the Democrat
ic party, full of fyouth, energy, cnthuSi.
asm, patriotism, "..till lives" an object of
admiration and vcncration for all time to
come.
\ party that numbered among its op-
ponCntS Webster and Clay in their
paImicSt days and survived their attacks
uninjurc'l, and the attacks Of host of
other brilliant intcllccts, need not apprc-
hcnd any danger from the puny assaults
Of the pigmics Of California. New parties
may be formed, may bc successful for q
campaign, may present . formidable Op-
position, but for brief period only. They
cannot bc either natiOnal.or permanent.
The measures Of the Democratic party
have become the settled policy Of the
country; under them it has prOspcrcd
beyond all precedent, and the masses
"scck no change, and least Of ell such
change" as new parties might advocate.
They are satisfied to let "well enough
alone. They have tested the experiments
of visionary politicians and found them
worthless. Tho plausible but insincere
professions Of economy and reform" :"
with which every new party commences
its career, have been tried and proved
miserable abOrtiOnS. The experience oof
the past, for which they have paid dearly,
warns them not to trust to professions
not to put their faith in" model reform.
crs. Local questions may distract the
Democratic party for a whiIc-thc Vigi.
lance question in San Francisco, it is
useless to deny the fact, has weakened it
in that city, and if made a test question