The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-09-05
ConaIstencY.

Less than one year ago, this State was
the scene Of a political canvass, the most
bitter and unrelcnting we ever witnessed.
The main fight at that time was between
the Douglas or Anti-Lecompton party,
and the administration or LecOmptOn par
tv-politicians and political presses taking
the most uliru positions for or against the
main question which constituted the then
issue. And even after the election, and
until within a short time previous to the
assembling of the Democratic Convention
nt Charleston, the war was kept up, though
in a more mild and less ranc0rouS man
ner.
We need not rccapitulatc any of the
scenes Of that memorable contest, for IT Is
not with that We have to deal; we only
mention it for the purpose that the reader
NAV call to his recollection the position
and grounds occupied by politicians and
the political press, less than a year ago,
and compare them with the position they
now occupy.
We are sticklers for principle, and ad-
mircrs of CoNsIsrENcY-and when We sec
such "high and lofty tumbling" as has
been performed by politicians and some
of the political journals within few weeks
past, VIC are forced to the conclusion, that
principles are secondary object, and
consistency enters not into their compo-
siton.
When the news reached this State Of
the double nomination at Baltimore, 1t
threw the "tidc.waitcrS" aStridc the
fence" until they could calculate in
which way the "winl" would blow the
strongest. y part of these fence
riders" mi>taking a sudden gust" for
the rdi Democratic "w ind"-turncd n
somcrsault from the topmoSt rail, and
landed in the center Of the cncmys fold
whom they so bitterly denounced but a
short time previous
We aScribc all honor to that class nj
Journals, who. unmndiui "f the direction
which .thc iitful breeze might dci.:n TO
blow, boldly unlurlcd the banner under
which each had fought in the previous
campaign, determined II follow its for
tunes whether it led to victory or defeat.
1t showed they each fougl.; for prtrcp'|t".
But what shall We say for those who have
>tultiiicd themselves, aud, without one
word Of apology or explanation, turned
their backs upon the prlncip.yS aud l.arty
they proicsScd to advocate ami uphold:
II right n1'r, they were 'rr"n9 'h'n. Let
those who the past year wasrd 50 bitter
and relentless n warfare upon the Douglas
party and principles, aud who now fall
into line with that party. wiling 10 be-
come small toads" in what they were
then pleased to term the Republican
puddle say, let them come mp 10
the confessional, and achnowc iSe that
they were wrong, that they had been led
a>trav, and now sought the true told LIT
ttcrn aSt;; the pardon Of Mr. Hrkia'1r'',
whom they ou>icd from his SCAT in Com
gi,>S for the reason that Il" aivo'at, the
principles for which they are ,t-'w con.
tending, and >tnnd hy the man wlu>c
name they now fly at their ma,th ai.-
L,t them 30 Irnancc at the craNc"f l;r"i-
rrirk who frl, in the strife. Gear ~ your
record, gentlemen, ErS:, and eater tia
canvass with clean hands, If destitute Of
principles. No one cnvics Your pre>eut
position. for tho contemplation of 1t leads
Us to exc'aim -"Oh Consistency. thou
I arr a iCwcs. hut alas, h"w few arr pos
>cS>cd Of thr precious rriAc.-H'i H'n!1
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