Volcano weekly ledger., 1857-02-21
The Interior Democratic Press.

The Interior Democratic Press
We find on our table this week, something
over dozen of the interior Democratic pa
pers of California; and in dgesting their
contents, we shall, as is the case every week,
enjoy feast of reason Much has been said
and written derogatory to the character Of
the California press; charges of corruption
and venalty have been made without stint
and over-credulous people at home and abroad
have probably been induced to believe thai
there is no such thing as honesty Of purpose
or sentiment in California newspaper
Wherever there is a great smoke, it is reason
able to conclude there is some fire; and We
are willing to admit the probability-nay
eertainty-that the columns of some news.
papers in the State have been, for consid-
alton, converted to base uses. Gamblers
have employed their coin, aud courtezans
their charms and quack doctors their ill-got-
ten gains, to induce the newspaper press to
inculcate that system Of morals which would
best advance their interests-or in other
words, they have lent material aid to such
papers as would pander to corrupted tastes,
and call gamblers and frequenters of public
brothels gentlemen. But we submit, that
this corruption has been confined to portion
Of the city press; and appeal to the columns
Of the mountain papers for the truth of the
assertion that they are free, as general
thing, from all corrupting influences.
1t has also been very generally charged
that California politicians have been exceed
ingly corrupt, and that the political presses
have been corrupted in sentiment and princi-
pie with the money and influence of political
stockholders. This, likewise, may be true
of portion of the city press-we leave them
to defend tbemselves-but again do we appeal
to the COLUMNS of the interior papers. or at
least the Democratic portion thereof, for their
own vindication. No refutation could be
more clear and complete. There are some
fifteen or sixteen country Democratic papers
IN the State and every candid man will
award to them high mcde of praise for the
eminent and very valuable services they rem
dered during the late campaign-without, in
each instance doubtless, expectation or hope
of pecnniary reward. Unlike the presses of
the other political parties-snd unlike por-
ton at least of the city Democratic press
the mountain Democratic press avoided the
unnecessary discussion Of outside subjects,
that could only tend to disorganize and devo-
ted their columns with zeal and earnestness
to the advocacy of pure democracy, regard
less of the tumult about questions that really
had nothing to do with the contest.
The Democracy have no organs" in the
strict sense Of that term. The party is not
responsible for what may be said in news
paper. Democratic principles are unchange'
able, and the conductors of Democratic jour
nails have safe and certain landmarks to guide
them, wherever they may be located. without
looking up to any central organ for their cue.
We do not wish to be understood, from this
remark, as casting any reflection upon the
city Democratic presses, but we desire simply
to claim for the country papers their rightful
independence Moreover. We might name at
least several Of the interior Democratic pa
pers that were and are conducted with de-
gree Of boldness and ability suffering not a
whit by comparison with the columns of any
city daily in the State. We would not make
invdious distinctions, bat must be permitted
to express our conviction that the interior
Democratic press did infinitely more than the
city journals to bring about the recent tri-
umph of the DeuAcracy. Our gains we're in
the mountains, whete the country papers cir
culats largely, and shers the city Democratic