St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-12-23
May be NE ar G a fanatic; but No conv;;o

May be we are fanatic; but 10 convie
ton ould be stronger in our mind, than
the feeling that the Lord has prepared u
by q long course Of discipline, to stand pub
licly as the ADVOCATE Of the oppsced .
our own sex, as representative q Rons1,s
right, under God, tochoose her own sphere
Of action. We have chosen ouls With d.
rect reference to the final account, and
those who make it the subject of sarcasm.
rldicule, or coarse personal abuse, mar cal
culate to meet all that is terrible in ear
nestness Of purpose
We are SO certain the Lord is on our
side, that it is quite impossible for US to
fear any force on earth. Dying is not diff.
fcult, yielding impossible. We have net
sought the control Of a press here, but
when it was offered us we looked upon it
as a command from the Great Master to 90
to work in His vineyard Cur conscience
acqults US OF having used it otherwise than
in the service cf Gcd and man. tits thus
we still hope to use it, and not to crafty
any feeling Of revenge against those Who
have sought cur injury with such singular
pertinacity and desperation.
We shall make no personal wal. upon
any, but those who attack us, had better
calculate the cost Of supplying territory
and munitions for the war that will SURELY
ensue. We fight all cur battles on the
enemys ground, and always use his wea-
pons, SO that he WHO makes personal war
upon us had better be sure Of his Gefcu-
sive armor. Let him make our private do
nestle relations the object Of his public
sneers, and he may calculate to defend his
own. .. -., - 1'
We look upon all politicians, whether in
otlcc Or out, as fair subjects of editorial
comment in all their political relations
We do not recognize any mans right to
privacy IN any attempt to govern the peo-
PIE. We never kept political secret and
think we never will. The people are the
proper source Of political power, and have
a right to know all the purposes and
plans Of those who dispense power and
patronage, Whenever we can trace DO
Ehtlcal wire up to the handle, we shall d.
rect public attention to that point, no mat
Ter where 1t is. Or what is likely to be the
consequence. We believe this is duty
which every editor owes the public, and
we shall have to get in a new supply Of
cowardice before We shrink from it
10 those who feel that these, cur purpo-
ses, are right, we appeal for al in carrying
them cut. The difficulties with. which We
have to contend are very great. A large
majority OF the people Of St. Cloud show
the best disposition TO aid and sustain us,
but III addition TO the general commercial
crash, this county has had to contcrd with
the loss Of the greater portion Of two crops
by the devastation Of. ss5r;ssshoppers.
Our enemies have shown Themselves un-
scrupulous and active: Their written
threats, OF more serious violence, stand I'M
cancelled, while their private efforts to III
jure our reputation, to cover our name
with most odious cpithets, and gross crimes,
are still actively pursued. Wcarc without
prisons, Or regularly organized Judiciary,
and those who take the responsibility Ct
these attacks are totally irresponsible. III
well as artiul and INSCRIPTIONS. They
have already deprived as Of a hope to
which we had long Looked forward, quiet.
humble, little hone CT CTR Own. lh~
preparation we had made ior building. il
now as money lost: for it IS not tho: hs
safe for lis to attempt living alone Gu.
o4fce must be SO situated, that With var
debility it is impossible for US to have
proper supervision Ct it, fer the press must
be placed where it can be guarded, with
out hiring men for that purpose.
We are not wont to make pititul appeals
Tor help, but We should be reclcant to duty
now, not to state the facts, that those who
love the American principles OF freedom Of
speech and freedom Of the press, may
know that here, in this noniinal!y free
State, it is IN danger CT being crushed
The Democrats no longer. a local organ,
although VIC shall make it a prominent OBJ
Ject to make known the resources OF north
ern Minnesota; but the great object Of its
life is to yindicate the freedom Of the press
For this, men here, Of both parties, have
contributed to purchase the material and
incurred a large expenditure in, publishing
it. Men Of comparatively small interests
are active and efficient as any, and We are
anxious that the responsibility thus assumed
may not f::''l too heavily upon them Our
terms of subscription are as lowas we can
make them, and to all who favor us with
subscriptions, We shall try to give the
worth Of their money. The people Of
st. Cloud have acted nobly their part in
this matter, and to the friends Of truth and
justice abroad, we now appeal to aid US in
our struggle for the right. - So -.