Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-05-07

Pubic Opinion and Political PaEtisG
The existeEes 81 political parties has nOtbes
frequently dsprseaisd BY thOss who 'ahe 10 later
est 10 political aGra themsdlves, who sEs AvsEsS 70
the least exeiiemest, who lore ease and sdalsDes.
aud cannot perceive that either Of the political par.
ties Of The day hASe achieved any permanent or
temporary good IOt their country. Il has not un-
frequently been urged against them that politics
eueender nothing bat personal aniuOsities; that
they disturb The otherwise quietDesS Of the public
mind; that they estrangs friends and neiKhbOrS.
pFgvuat social intoFcOuFss, arouse the passions 81
the people, and ere productive Of nothing bat evil
Barring personal anmOsities sad feelings which
ought not, need not form an element Of political
Htrif-pOlIcs and political parties, 20 fer from be-
ing deprecated are essential eDement in the pros
pcriiy and stability II the country. EmbOdyiug a.
they d. certain principles, nSsaSuFes and men, con-
dacive either 10 the welfare OF the ruin Of the coun
try, they scFve 70 keep the people iuSar~ed and
awake 10 realisation Of the duties they owe them
selves; they bring constantly and intelgby before
the people the whole seienee Of government and
keep alive and active that interest IOF The welfare Of
sco@aOs e0assFy Which can be nurtnFsd in no other
manner; end e this interest," this desire, this de-
tsrwlsstios % sbs part Of the people to be govern.
ed By good measures asd men, which eAusts Sueh
parties 70 triumph such men 10 Be elevated 70 Pow.
Ct and place." and such principles. and such only
to be recognised - have at heart the welfare Of
common country. Whether or not there be any
truth In the 0lFepeated assertion that the "vOiee
Of the people IL the voica Of God that the Al
mighty rules the country through the expression Of
public opinion and the popular wilI-eertain Il Is
that the people never willingly work against their
own interest, never support men they dislikc, and
wifi mt sustain that puFty which ai"e To their
interest. They desPise treachery and have pro-
per contempt FOR political weathercock.
Then, fs party, forgetting the principles and
pledges by which Il obtained ascendeney, proves
false to them, and violates the confidence rcposed
10 Il, Il sooner later gives way 10 another, and
is som forgotten Or mentioned only with dissatis-
faction. Thus Il ever has been and thus It ever
will be. No party relying upon the Ieniency Of the
people can abuse the public trust with impunity.
When party has, through the voice Ofthe poo
pie, UbtHiued asCcudeucyS It naturally desires tn
maintain its supremacy, which Il can only do by
pursuing . consistent, uniform course Of policy
conducive to the welfare of the Nation; and hence
the formation Of political parties in our country are
. Wholesome restraint on corrupt legiSlatiOn-and
give ~ what could be given In no other way-a
wise and popular government. Parties act a. q
cheek on each other, and dishonest man cannot
long remain 10 Office before his rascalIty 10 detected
and exposed.
Let ne hope, therefore, that while POIicicaI parties
must Of necessity exist spirit II brotery frbrar.
ance and kindncas will pervade them; that they will
be characterized, not By war between classes, not
BY senseleas alOusiea, but BY the better adaptation
Of labor to pursuit. The days when personal abuse
can avail anything, save 10 its recipient, has gone
by. and party that seeks to accomplish is cnds by
trsducing and xiIlfyiDg personal character ia sure
TO accomplish lie own ruin. The abuse Mr.. BrOd'
erick has hcapcd upon President buchanan has
greatly lowered him 10 the estimation Of every hon.
Orable man. II was gratuiiOus and undiKnifed, bu,
perfectly in keeping with the character and trimming
Of the polished aud intellectual Senator. There
never has been nor Is there any cause whatever
for the existence In pOlitica Of that personal ami
mostly which makes friends foes, at times disturb
ing the sacred peace Of the family circle. A man 10
the less man that be holds political opinions
at variance with those entertained by majority of
his cOuntrymcn. We repeat, the days Of personal
animosIty have passed, and the people have seen
the utter folly Of embrOiling personalities 10 politics.
There are certainly eDOagh parties in our county,
embOdying principles conducive either N the vel
fare or the Injury Of the UniOn for every citizen to
lind one congenial 10 his own views; and IL be-
hOOvcs him 10 act with Il. He 10 utterly unworthy
the privileges and blessings Of republican, govern
ment who has no opinion On the great questions Of
the day, OF is afraid 10 express IT, The no party
man" b very valuable citizen In some countries
where freedom Of opinion l. unknown or not iOIera.
ted; bot 10 = eOuntTy like our own, where Discus
SOu ELECTS information, where the people rule, and
each citizen is sovereign, be is nuisance. II moth
Ing worse. Indifference to politics 10 equivalent to
indifference to tho prosperity ruin Of the country
An EARNED neutrality" Is very well when war IL
desolating other countries, but neutrality Of Opn-
ion is crime. Every citizen enjoying the blessing
and privileges conferred upon him BY FepublicAn
government, owes Il . solemn duty to himself aud
hiR county to fuRl bis obligations 90 . citizen BY
the expression Of hs opinion and participating 10
political eOn6icts.
II Il no exAggsFatIOn to say that but for the OK.
istenee Of political parties our Republic could NOT
DO mAintaiASa-it would GAll 10 pieces Of itselG--
Our government 10 formed By public OpiniOa.-
Where there is no party, there is NO OPuio0 where
there Il 10 opiaiou, there caH be no gOverDwent
end where there is no government, barbasium and
desPOtism only can hOld sway. These ere EsIEevi
dsntprOpOsitiOus. Might" would tbsn b Right"
and our country, though gIOVsOus her record the
present day, and prOud Der pOai.lOa among the ma
tons Of the world would Be- crushed. never to rise
again, were that great heast Oe the nation, public