St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-04-19

some Kind volca,had murmursd, i wish he
were here"
With many wishes for the prosperity Of
Minnesota and the common welfare and
happiness of her citizens, W. A. G.
The Democ, ats and the Home
stead Bill.
The Democratic party his hitherto had
the esed;a osdevotipg itaelf exclusively to
the interests Of the poorer classes. 1t is
ALMOST impossible for foreigner, unaccus
toned to the 6ctions which modern Amer.
lean S. ciety develops to distinguish the
principles Of the Democratic party from
the glorious significance which its name
suggests. They naturally confound names
aad definitions with the qualities o. the
things indicated, making no allowance for
the extr.vagancies Of the age, or for the
absurdities and Irregularities which II en-
genders; thus vszy naturally the Demo
cratic party enlists the Fopeign element in
its behalf: They rush into, ita embraces as
naturally as iron attracts itself to.a magnet.
and surrounded by the lustre and magni6-
oence Of its nominal splcndors, they forget
to examine the principle, which it seeks
to carry out. The uneducated classes gen
orally for similar reasons sre strongly dem
ccratic Of course it is nothing against
the party that i; is composed Of elements
surrounded vitA mental and pecuniary en-
barrassment Neither poverty nor igno-
rance are disgraceful when their existence
is matter Of necessity but it certainly
illustrates the importance Of choosing ap-
propsiatc terzas for the designation of our
principles and enumerates the errors
which may be disguised ly simply calling
them truths. But it really seems to us
that the recent action Of the Democratic
party, through its chosen representatives
in Congress, in relation to the Homestead
Bill, richly deserves the entire disintegra-
tion from its ranks Of the poorer classes.
Hitherto many Of its features have been at
the dictation Of just such people A part
cfthe policy Of the party has been to re-
tain their support, while preparing to make
them finally either freemea or slaves. Our
INDECENT Democratic friends will hardly
receive m apology for the decisive opposi-
ton which the party have been pleased Of
late to exercise in relation to that Bill
Had Congress been called on to deplete
the public Treasury, for party aegrandize-
went-te contribute Of the national wealth,
that which was needed for other purposes
to cripple our resources by cutting of
the means OF productiQn-"r TO- foster ex~
travagance or lend to pride, universal ap-
probation might exist IN place of universal
denu"eiation. Ifthcre ever was measure
which contemplated the welfare and provi-
ded for the prosperity Of the poor laboring
classes. it is the Homestead Bill, as intro
duced by Cyrus Aldrich, Member Of Con.
gress from Minnesota. No measure of
equal importance has beea before Congress
for the past thirty wears. It proposes
simply to provide upon certain easy condi-
tions Of residence, the poor man with a
farm, free Of charge, out qfthe uncultiya.
ted, unappropriaied public domain. Isit
not strange that man should be fonnd At
the North, to oppose such measure p.
Still the Great Democratic party with all
ITS professions Of fidelity 70 the poor, when
called upon for vote, records itself against
it: The question very naturally arises in
our minds - to the cause Of sY.h opposi-
ton. Northern men, who have really the
int rest Of their section at heart, must be
ID favor Of the Bill. The fertile farming
lands Of ths North. West need filing uP
with Just such : class IS would naturally
seek the benefits Of it. Thstsection needs
the sqbduipg process Of civilization, the
wealth which industry engenders, and the
development il affords. The passage ssul = s s
the Homestead Bill, would fxthe destiny
and fortunes !, Ct ibis ssst region. South
cru men are intensely opposed to this Bill.
The Presid .nt Of the United States stands
behind Congress. 70 receive it with veto.
In fact opposition to the Bill iss fast be:
!, coming, .t Washington: the tcstsof good
|tDeaeeraey. We we're not at ali surprised