Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-12
The Blight Spirit

The Union Democrat, an able, fearless and
uncompromising Democratic paper in COM
menting upon the Senatorial election, says:
I've had hoped that the day Of man-worship in
California politics passed, never agan 10 return
that the time had arrived when could he select
ed for places Of honor and prO6t with view to their
fitness and ability"
The Democratic masses, intelligent and I'M
selfish, are decidedly averse to any further
struggle for men. They arc for the principles
Of their party and for the men who can advO-
cate them with the greatest ability and success.
The election Of any sound, unwavcring, talcn-
ted Democrat to the Senate-a Democrat who
has labored zcalOusly and efficiently for the
good old cause" who has fought long and
faithfully under our proud old banner, who
has done the party and State good service,
whose character, qualifications aud fidelity are
conceded, they will DC satisfied with. They
arc devoted to principle, not 70 men; and they
will not tolerate, much lcsA sanction, any con.
test merely for mon. 1.-THE Drn.OrTatic party
has nothing to fear, but from itself Il ID our
duty to say, that In its own ranks there arc
elements which may destroy Il that there are
dangers in its organization which mcnancc its
existence. To shut our eyes to this fact Is to
quietly submit to the catastrophe which it is
our duty to avert We cannot maintain our
organization in fact by talking Of the past
We cannot make glorious future without
mutual sacrifice Of mere prcjudiccs on the al.
tar Of principle We cannot discharge our
duty by pinninS ourselves to the coat.tail Of
this or that man and identifying ourselves with
his interests" To maintain our organization
and the integrity Of the party, VIC must not
hesitate occasionally to sacrifice our personal
preferences. All loyal Democrats will agree
with us in this. 1t is fact undcniable,
that the ''long continued ascendency Of the
Democratic party las attracted to it many Of
the selfish and unP'inciplcd men who work
for the spells alone They are Democrats, not
because of their firm belief in the truth Of the
principles Of the Democratic party, but because
it affords them a better chance to secure Of
fice." They pin their faith to men, they work
for men, and to secure the success Of their ia
voritcs would destroy the Democratic party at
any moment
The duty Ofnll Democrats is to pcrtinacious
" adhere to principle regardless of all person.
al feelings. The contest for men cannot but
work mischief II stirs ~ bad blood, cstran-
ges friends, and breeds foolish disScnsions. 1t
arouscs prcjudiccs, bitter and unrelcntng in
their character, and which, unless alaycd, arc
likely to interfere seriously with the otherwise
harmonious workings Of the Democratic party.
Those who kindle into flame these fierce and
almost unquenchablc fires, assume fearful
responsibility, and light up conflagration
which it will require the active efforts Of pa
triotic and good men to suppress, or it will
consume the Democratic party. Men who are
really actuated by principle, arc careful not to
throw any impeachment in the way Of their
success. They scOrn to be man-worSlip,rs,
and look with something akin to pity and COLI
tempt on men who are governed by passion
and prejudice, not reason and principle.