The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-05-12
Degrading the Prestige Of the Demo-
cratic Pasty.


/ 1t Is the chief glory Of the Democratic
party that il has always been aggressive
as well o. progresive-sggressive in uproot-
ing the Wrong, as well as progressive in
advancing the Right. Animated by this
spirit, it has always occupied the position
Of attack, never that Of defence. And In
this has lain one great secret Of its success.
For il Is in politics as iu war ; the aggres-
sive policy is almost always the successful
policy. 1t permits the active employment
Of oil available force generates spirit Of
enthusiasm and except under the dsad.
vantage Of extreme Odds II guarantees the
victory.
This has heretofore been the policy Of
the Democracy. It has attacked the errors
Of all other political organizations keeping
itself continually on the aggressive, and for
cling its adversaries to remain always on the
defensive. by this policy every atom Of
its actual strength has been made available,
while that Of its opponents has been weak
ened by diversion, and by the inertia which
follows continued system Of defensive ac-
ton. That this has been the position Of
the Democracy heretofore, it needs no elab-
crate reference to political history to verify.
The very name which the opposition bears
that Of an" opposition '-sigui6es in it.
self the aggressive character Of the Demo-
cratic party and the defensive character Of
its adversaries.
l, is proposed here in Minnesota to change
this traditional and uniformly successful
policy Of the Democratic party. The State
Central Committee, acting as its temporary
tactitians, have deliberately placed the
Democracy Of Minnesota in defensive atti-
tude. Possessed Of the absolute right, both
in respect of the essential virtue Of its prin.
ciples and of the number, intelligence, and
courage of its members, to occupy the posi-
tion of attack in the coming canvaS,it is
yet forced, through the pusillsnimity or the
wrong judgment Of the Central Commit
tee, into posture destructive Of the prestige
Of the party, and seriously jeopardiDg its
success. The Democracy is placed in this
anomalous position by the action Of the
Committee in calling the State Convention
a month later than the time designated for
the Opposition Convention. This action
gives the Opposition the fullest opportunity
not merely to inaugurate, but to determine
the character, Of the Fall campaign. 1t
throws into the hands of our adversaries
all the important advantages, which, with
consummate policy, our party leaders have
heretofore, immemorially, secured to our
selves.
The action OF the Committee is inexcusa.
bic, because il is In the teeth Of all expert
encc, and in defiance Of all precedent and
it is the least pardonable of offences, be-
cause it is shining against knowledge
Not one Democrat in hundred will know
how to conduct himself in canvass of the
character which is virtually prescribed by
the Democratic Central Committee. The
" mastery inactivity. OF the "still hunt .
system, is q species Of tactics in which Dem
ocrats have never been trained; and it is a
system which, for the honor or the success Of
the party should never have been proposed.
Democrats have faith in their principles
not theoretc belief. but an actual, living
faith, growing out of the testing experiences
of half century and they are always
ready to fight for them-not deiensively,
within forts and behind ramparts, but Of
fensively to assail all their adversaries on the
open field of the country.
We itel personal degradation in seeing
the gallan, old party thus hampered and
constrained, ard its prestige destroyed
through the cowardice OF its Central Com
mittec God hates Cowards,' So 10 We.