Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-18
Temporary Character Of the Opposition.

Il is somewhat singular, but nevertheless
true, that the opposition to the Democratic
party, through series Of years Of more than
half century, has almost uniformly been Of a
temporary character. The very name Of the
old Federal and Wing parties has been Of an
ephemcral nature. 1t is only when the coun-
try is IN distress or in seasons Of high excite
mcnt, when clamor and misrepresentation has
perverted the public mind, creating feveriSh
and artificial state Of affairs, that the Demo-
cratic party in the States or Nation has been
overthrown. The first rOut it experienced in
the New England States, after the accession of
Alr. Jefferson to the Presidency, was in the
last year of his administration. The embargo
and non-intercourse measures were then pro-
Ised. These acts caused violent opposition
in the Eastern States, where it was contended
that they ruined commerce and proStrated the
shipping interest, then the leading pursuits Of
the solid men Of Boston. The mercantile
classes, aided and propelled by the tories OF
the Hartford Convention School, set up ter
rible bowling. The clamor was almost rest
less. For q time the Democracy Of New En-
gland was utterly proStrated. This state OF
things continued up to aud during the war Of
1912, and there was no such thngas counter
acting the efforts of men who declared il" un-
becoming moral and religious people to re-
joicc over the victories obtained over the cme-
mics of our country" The madness and fury
Of the opposition spent its force, and the De-
mocrncy could only look on and regret the p0-
liticaI hallucination which ragged with such
unrclenting frrvor. Though defeated in one
section, their numerical strength in the Union
at large was still present. On the return Of
peace, when passion and prejudice had been
stillcd, when the winds and waves Of faction
had subsidized, and the "sobcr second thought
of the people had time to do its work, the re.
action was great. The Democratic party was
again restored to power In all its pristine vigor
and usefulness. North, South. East and West
warmed up with the genial influences which
gravitated from the centre, and the whole
country was pcrmeated by those eternal po-
litical truths which secure peace and happiness
to all. Never was the country more prosper
Gus and the spirit Of harmony and friendship
more aiIcctionatcly cultivated. The season OF
rcpose WINS again disturbed, when the United
States Bank, the colossal mOncycd incorpora-
lon, sought to obtain re-chartcr, by creating
an artificial panic, causing a tremendous
iluctuation in the price Of real estate, and the
prostration Of business. The clamor raised
in its behalf by its debtors, and the large clas,
Of politicians who were made subservient Il
its designs, appalled, the stoutcst heart, and
shook the party to its foundation. Nothing
but the heroic and invincible courage Of Gen
Jackson, and his personal popularity, could
have withstOod the shock. The struggle was
indeed, desperate one, but tho Democracy
were equal to the emergency. The Wings
yielded the contest only when this last shO
was fired in the campaign. The law creating
the Independent Treasury" passed in tho
last year OF Mr.. Van Burcns Administration
was next made the target OH which the Oppo
Sition centcred all its batteries. by lying ant
misrepresentation stories Of gold spoons, rag
for the community and silver for tho Sub
Treasury, blood-hounds, shinplasters and 9th
er vagaries-Onc currency for office-hOlder.
and another for the peoplc-by guzzling dowr
large quantity Of old whisky under the nam'
Of "hard cider" and turning the country up
side down generally, they succeeded in elect
ing Gen. Harrison to the Presidency. Tn,
victory, however, proved an empty honor
1t was barren of fruit Providence intcrposet
to save the nation Tho dread evils which
menanced our civil institutions were happily
avcrted. The diScordant elements which co
alesccd in 1910 could not long hold together
and the reign Of Tyler scattered like chatf be
| iOIO tbC NIHuo tHc ulSJUtutcu uubutCIto VI tH'
Wing party. 1t could never recover from the
back stroke it received at that period, and il
1862 it gave up the ghost, after an existence
Of twenty years, during which time it sturdily
battled against the timc-honored principles o
the Democracy. The Anti. Slavery element il
now the moving power Of the opposition. Il
is the archmimidcan lever Of the Black Re
publicanS. In all the Free States of the Union
with the exception Of California (where the
Embodiment" has been swallowed up BY
the Brodcrick Boilers, as black snake dispo
Ses Of toad,) it has an organization whose
numbers are not to be despised. It is the
only party which can now pretend to measure
arms with the Democracy Of the Union.-
Either it or the Democratic party will triumph
in 1860 All other antagonistic organizations
will be made to yield to this one. 1t is mar
shallcd by able leaders, and their purposes arC
well understood. Vice President Breckenridge
in his speech ut Florence, Kentucky, has ac
curately sketchcd its principles and designs
Federalism, National Republicanism, Whig
ism, Anti.Masonry, Know -Nothingism, anC
all the other temporary organizations Of thu
Opposition have died out. Black Republican
ism alone is left as nest egg. 1t remains t
be seen whether it will have n longer or mort
permanent existence than those fceting me
teors which preceded the advent of this twink
ling stars. T. National.
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