The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-11-25
Party Organ ship, and Party Dictatorship.


1t is habit which has become chronic
among portion of the Democratic press o.
this State, in abiding to The PIONEER AND
DEMOCRAT, to designate it as the central
Organ of the Democracy of Minnesota" or
as journal assuming to be the Organ Of
the party" and to speak of its suggestions
and criticisms in regard to the members and
policy of the party, as 4" dictation," or at
tempts at dictation )" none of which styles
of reference are justified by the position we
occupy, or desire to occupy, nor by the
spirit in which we communicate opin-
ions upon party politics and politicians.
The extravagant length to which some of
these papers have lately gone in this direc-
tion, furnishes us an excuse for reproducing
the substance of an article published long
ago in reference to this matter of party
organship and party dictatorship, in which
we endeavored to state, beyond any chance
of misconception, the exact attitude in which
we then stood, and intended to occupy, in
regard to the men, measures, management
and organization of the Democratic party
of Minnesota. This suggestion of "organ-
ship " is made either as matter of compli
ment or of disparagement, according as the
paper employing it is actuated by friendly
or unfriendly sentiments. In the one case
it is unwe!come, and in the other unjust
and we desire once more so to explain our
relations to politics and political organiza-
lions, that no one will hereafter apply the
designation to The PIONEER AND DEMO
Graf, except as a slang epithet, and as
vulgar means of giving offence
The PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT is published
as business enterprise by its proprietors,
at their cost, and for their account, and not
as political enterprise by the Democratic
party of Minnesota, nor at its cost, nor for
its account. Being so published, it reflects
in its editorial columns the opinions of its
editors, as well upon political as upon all
other matters which are the legitimate sub
jects Of newspaper comment or discussion.
Such political opinions may frequently be
influenced or modified by the superior judg-
ments of men who are in no way connected
With, nor responsible for, the conduct Of the
paper; but when expressed, they are ex-
pressed as the deliberate convictions Of the
editors, and not as the sentiments either of
the Democratic party of Minnesota, or of
any clique or faction of that party. So far
as any responsibility is concerned, the paper
is entirely independent of the Democratic
organization of the State, and the Demo-
cratic organization is, of course, equally
independent of the paper. Connexion be-
tween the party and the paper exists only
in cases where there is an identity of political
sentiment and an agreement in regard to
political action to this extent there is po-
litical sympathy and concord; outside of
this there is neither reciprocal support nor
obligation. This is the only relation
which can exist between a political party
and public journal, without bringing with
it injury to the one and degradation to the
other.
This relation, which The PIONEER AND
DEMOCRAT has always occupied, and will
hereafter sustain, towards the Democratic
party, does not in any sense accord with the
general idea of Party Organ. A Party
Organ is paper whose fundamental idea is
party support, without reference to truth of
doctrine or propriety of policy; which in
vests each temporary authority with immac-
ulate judgment and unappealable power; ;
which blindly follows even when blindly led;
with which inquiry is impertinence and pro-
testation crime; whose conductors are re-
tailers Of opinions, doctrines, and policies
manufactured by other men, for disposition
in lots to suit the market or to meet the ex-
igencies of current needs whose God is the
man in Office, and whose Devil is the man
who will not worship him; which reveals
neither the strength of individuality nor the
energy of conviction which is automatic in
all things and manlike in nothing; and
which, therefore, enjoys neither influence
among its partizans nor respect among its
opponents. This is the Party Organ. AS
an instrument of political power it has be-
comes odious and will soon become obsolete.
1t furnished at period when the spirit Of
our institutions,-whch rest upon the free.
dom of individual thought and the indeoen.
deLce of individual action-was less appre
ciated than it is at the present day. 1t has
long been discarded by the great men of all
parties, and has fallen under the control, and
performs the services, of the little dema.
gogues who frequent the pothouses, and de
their dirty work for the dirtiest pay. Witt
these Party Organs The PIONEER AMI
DEMOCRAT holds neither sympathy mol
utilization. 1t does not belong to them, no.
to those who use them. 1t despises the