The hydraulic press., 1861-07-27

UBausman, of the Press, is going to toss a
copper to datermine whether he will vote for
Avery or Ridge for State Printer. II a fellow
has no political principles he may as we'll rely on
the fall of copper as his judgment.-Neyada
Journal.
We should like to know what political prin-
ciple" really is. We have seen more than one
noisy leader in the ranks of political party,
who has submitted his claims to the decision of
a convention for Office, and because he met with
disappointment, was found thereafter acting in
the ranks of his political opponents.
We know men who affected to despise par
ticular party, and who have uttered harsh things
against it, until their names happened to be men,
tenioned in connection with the honors it had to
bestow, when they suddenly denied all their an
tecedents, and warmly espoused the new confess
sion of faith
We have witnessed the elevation of very pop
ular men to ofice-in whose fidelity it would be
criminal to express doubt-who, when fully
commissioned and installed, acted directly in
contradiction to all previous professions, and the
well-founded expectation of their friends.
We have seen political principles" take an
ignorant loafer from the purlieus of whisky
shop, and send him to the State Legislature,
merely because he possessed certain kind of
strength with certainclass of people.
We have seen-bah! what infamies have we
not all seen-perpetratedi in the name of "politi-
cal principles"
The Journal is correct We have no political
principles. The term is convertible and extreme
ly latitudinarian. Our principle is, to do right,
in despite of party usages and political corrup-
tions We dare vote for whom we please, and
against whom we please. That's more than the
man who wears party collar can say.
The result of our observations has been, that
political principle, as professed and practised
by party man, is, to secure an Office. The Office
is the principle which stimulates his patriotism,
makes him eloquent in the cause of party, skill
full in packing conventions, energetic in buying
votes, liberal in his contributions to the cause,
and monster Triton among the silly minnows
whom he has beguiled into his net.
Principles, indeed! How few men that use
the term, comprehend anything of its meaning
So far as relates to the tossing of the copper,
we have this to say: If Ridge is the author of the
|
Herald, his course has relieved us from the ne
cessity of adopting that expedient. We shall not
vote for him. 1t is principle with us to support
good men who support the Government, and to
ostracise all those who are lukewarm in their
| loyalty to its institutions.
| RIDGES PosrrIoN.-Our old friend Ridge,
since he assumed the editorial management of
the San Francisco Herald, seems to have slightly
changed front on the war question. In one of
his articles he says:
"1n the face of facts like these, is it not sur
prising that men can be found madly fanat-
ical, so insanely sectional, to declare that no
| propositions of peace are to be entertained, and
no offers of compromise accepted, unless they
come from suppliant hands and bended knees on
| the part of the South? 1t is to the interest of
| the country that this should close, and if it
can be closed on any reasonable basis, on any
basis which shall do justice to both sections, in
the name of God and humanity let it be DONE"
If we mistake not, Mr.. Ridge at one time
thought, as we think now and as all true patriots
should continue to thnk-that it will be time
enough to offer "te ms of peace and entertain
suggestions of compromise" when those who
are in arms against the Government ask such
|
to-day, as they were when they attacked Fort
Sumter. The only plan of adjustment which
any of the leaders has as yet proposed, is an un-
conditional recognition of the independence of
the Southern Confederacy.
"It is to the interest of the country" if it
hopes or expects ever to command obedience to
its laws at home. consideration for its dignity
| uhr ho11i TO
posing armies; to hang all perjured traitors;
and recover, to the last farthing, whatever Of
valuable property it has heretofore been wickedly
and injuriously despoiled.
We are afraid the editor of the Herald, like he
of the Marysville Express, takes alarm at the
dollar and cent cost of the Suppose it
should require all the gold, and silver, and jew
elry, and real estate, and personal property, and
outstanding debts of all the loyal citizens of the
United States to be contributed held in bond,
or otherwise appropriated to defray its vastly
cumulating expenses-what is that, in compari-
son with National honor, the freedom of the cit
izen, the enforcement of the law, the heritage to
our children, which awaits the successful issue
of this struggle? Nothing-less than nothing
Those heaven-born blessings are priceless; and
base is the mind that could for a moment enter
tain thought of yielding them for the preserva-
ton of either riches or life.
We repeat 1.-THE enemies of the Government
must be crushed. The example is worth twenty
times what it will cost. To concede single
point, until rebellion has formally and volunta-
rily disarmed itself-until the leading traitors
are given over to an expiation Of their crimes on
the gsiiows-would be to forfeit its own self
respect, and bring the Government into deserved
contempt with every petty Power on the habit
able globe.
IF we do not give our assistance to carry
on this most unhaiiowed, this most Internal
war, we are secessionists and rebels against
the Government Applause. If this be
true, the action and conduct Of Brutus was
! hpt tho Eraxa ziad card.,et ot saaadsaa,a ,,